Cunobelius Wild A, Central Stalk. Sills class 3a, dies 26/39. c.AD 8-41. Gold stater. 17mm. 5.46g. Ear of barley with central stalk and long whiskers, CA to left, MV to right./ Wild horse leaping right, short dashes for mane, branch above, CVN[O] below on exergual line. ABC−, VA 1931-1, BMC 1784-86, DK 552 (this coin), S 285. CCI 13.0542 (this coin). Good EF, smooth surfaces of scintillating rose gold, well whiskered barley, fabulous full-bodied horse, pointy sharp inscription. Ex John Follows collection. Found Sudbury, Suffolk. SCARCE type, these dies EXTREMELY RARE only seven others recorded.

The metdet who discovered this Wild Type A seven years ago must have danced with delight when it came out of the Suffolk soil. Even before he’d rinsed it under a tap he must surely have realised that he’d unearthed an amazingly captivating corn ear gold stater – one of the nicest Wild Type we’ve seen. The barley ear is centrally positioned on the flan and boldly hammered, with all seven grains standing out in high relief and all nine whiskers clearly delineated. CAMV is neatly cut in large capitals with dots at the ends of each letter. The stallion is one of the most characterful caricatures of a horse in the British series, with its tiny head, bird-like jaws, spiky mane, bulging body and stick-like legs. He’s well set in the centre of the flan, allowing us to see most of the palm-branch above and CVNO below him. A beautifully balanced composition, exquisitely executed. And the surfaces of this stater are silky smooth and scratch-free. Well done, the man (or woman) who found this stunning stater! Published by Dr John Sills in Divided Kingdoms, pp.654 and 675 (this coin).