In my quest for knowledge of the Celtic coin area I've learned a lot from the writings of Chris Rudd who has an excellent website and along with Liz Cottam produces a regular online catalogue several times a year....Rudd explains the Celtic coin rarity system as follows:::::
VERY COMMON:::::over 200 pieces
COMMON:::101-200
SCARCE:::51-100
RARE:::31-50
VERY RARE::16-30
EXTREMELY RARE::6-15
EXCESSIVELY RARE::::2-5
UNIQUE?::ONLY ONE?
This system was originally devised by Van Ardsell in 1989 and used by most collectors and dealers .."Tho very approximate it has proved to be a valuable guide to the comparative scarcity of different types" [quote from pg 8 of the ABC book..by C Rudd] ....These figures were and are based on reported finds to the Celtic Coins Index and Portable Antiquities Scheme and should be regarded as a rough guide only as many finds arent reported.....
A very small minority of Metdet finds in the Uk are of the Celtic type for a few good reasons as follows::
1...UK origin Celtic coins were only produced for a relatively short time of around 200 yrs from 150BC to around 45AD. The mintages were not high to begin with and many were constantly being melted to make newer coins as the politics changed over time.....between the constantly warring celtic tribes...
2...The Celtic coin finding area of the Uk is a small area comprising about 1/4 of the UK land base in the South Eastern part roughly in a line from Dorset on the Southwest coast to Humber on the mid east coast. This area is known as the Celtic Coin Zone and is the area where the various coin producing tribes lived....from pg 8 of the ABC book
3... most of the gold in the coins came via the Romans as tribute to the friendly Celtic Kings. This was how the ROMANS did their business. Before the UK
invasions The gold primarily came from Gaulish Celtic tribes and were often melted down and reformed into local currency although many Gallic Gold and Silver pieces turn up on UK soil such as the famous Ambiani Gallic War Staters...which served as influential models for Later designs on UK Celtic coins.....
I hope this info is of use to the community
the illustrated coin is the one of Corn Ear types ...From the Catuvellauni King CUNOBELINUS AD 8-41 listed as ABC 2786 Cunobelinus Plastic gold stater
Posted 02/21/2013 5:29 pm
And nice map--I never considered the complexity of Celtic tribes in Britain (I didn't expect to see Belgiae on the map).
