★ The prototype of the 'Büschelquinarii' ★

CELTIC, Central Europe. Vindelici. Late 2nd to early 1st century BC. Quinarius (Silver, 13 mm, 1.81 g, 10 h), 'Prototyp' issue. Naturalistic male head to left, hairs in thick upwards strands. Rev. Horse galloping to left. Dembski -. Flesche 365 var. (later style). Kellner, Manching, 66. LT -. SLM 1105 var. (later style). Beautifully toned and of very early style, extremely rare thus. Slightly granular , otherwise, about extremely fine.

From an important collection of Central European Celtic coins.

This issue is the precursor of the later 'Büschelquinarii', on which the male head on the obverse gradually degenerates into a whirl. What is especially interesting about this coin is that both the male head and the horse are of a very early and exceptionally naturalistic style, which places it at the beginning of the whole series. It may, in fact, have been the prototype die pair for all later issues.