Eisu Tree. c.AD 20-43? Gold stater. 16-20mm. 5.24g. Spiky tree symbol on plain field./ Disjointed horse right with ‘safety pin’ head, EISV and triad of two pellets and tiny x above, six-spoked wheel below, pellets around. ABC 2078, VA 1105, BMC 3039-42, S 381. CCI 20.0419 (this coin). Good VF, rose gold, complete tree, well centred, bold horse, full EISV. Ex John Follows collection. Found Gloucestershire. RARE

“I think this tribal emblem resembles the budding branch of a coppiced ash-tree” says John Follows in Coin News, March 2020, p.43. Interestingly, archaeologist/numismatist Dr Paul Robinson says two Romano-British finger-rings, each bearing a branched emblem, have been found not far from the land of the Dobunni – one (A) from the Rudge villa site at Foxfield, Wilts, the other (B) from Wilton, Wilts (Chris Rudd List 53, 2000, p.3).

John Follows says: “As an axe-wielding woodsman, I’ve been enthralled by the coins of ‘the tree people’ – the Dobunni of the West Midlands whose tribal territory included the forests of Dean, Arden and Wyre” (Coin News, March 2020, p.43). John’s special interest in the Dobunni is evident from the extraordinary quantity of top-quality Dobunnic staters he acquired. It is doubtful that anyone will ever see so many coming onto the market again from a single private collection. This is your last chance to select a top-grade Follows’ ‘tree people’ stater for your own collection.