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Auction: 23051 - English Milled and Hammered Coins and Artefacts
Lot: 1004

Iron Age Britain, Dobunni, Bodvoc (c. 25-5 BC), AV Stater, BODVOC across field, rev. triple-tailed horse right, pelleted-annulets and crescent above ['hidden face'], wheel below, saltires in fields, 5.48g, 3h (Cottam 217-218; VA 1052-1; BMC 3135-3142; Spink 388; ABC 2039), minor flawing to name, a softer but legible striking of this iconic issue, broad-struck on a handsome rose gold flan, fine to very fine, rare

ProvenanceP

Found "in freshly planted bean field", near Leominster (Herefordshire), Spring 2023




The issues of Bodvoc {trans. 'Battle-crow'}, an historically unattested ruler, are shrouded in mystery particularly as his coin iconography is completely incongruous with other Dobunnic issues, most notably in the unprecedented addition of the ruler's name within the design. Dr John Sills has previously suggested that Bodvoc may therefore have been an intruder from a neighbouring tribe such as the Catuvellauni, and probably a relation of contemporary ruler Addedomaros (c. 45-25 BC) or Tasciovanos (c. 25 BC-AD 9), who had long emblazoned names on their own coinage. Intriguingly the so-coined 'hidden face' design seen above the triple-tailed horse on the reverse is also highly reminiscent of Tasciovanian issues of the North Thames area (cf. ABC 2550-74).

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Sold for
£750

Starting price
£750