Corio Tree. c.20BC-5AD. Gold stater. 17-19mm. 5.34g. Dobunnic branch emblem on plain field./ Triple-tailed horse right, CORI[O], two pellets and crescent above, forming sad hidden face, hook, V-shape and three dots behind tail, wheel below. ABC 2048, VA 1035, BMC 3104-3133, S 386. CCI 20.0418 (this coin). EF, scintillating pinky-hued rose gold, smooth surfaces, bold horse, clear inscription. Ex John Follows collection. SCARCE

Referring to his ordering of Dobunnic staters, Dr John Sills says: “Although this is a coherent typological sequence, there are reasons for thinking it may be an over-simplification. The most obvious is that the mean weight of Bodvoc staters is significantly lower than that of Corio, although this is partially compensated for by the slightly higher gold content of the former; the weight of the four irregular coins [Pershore type, ABC 2005] is lower still. A sequence based solely on weight would therefore have Corio before Bodvoc, as Van Arsdell suggested.” (Chris Rudd List 72, November 2003, p.6). The little hidden face above the horse is clearly a simplified version of the one on the Bodvoc stater (Lot 27). The beauty of Follows’ Corio stater is that it includes all the main elements of the design including the enigmatic V-sign behind the horse; the satin-like surface of the obverse is so smooth you can almost see your face in it.