★ An extremely rare inscribed ƧAV-Stater ★

CENTRAL EUROPE. Vindelici. 2nd-1st century BC. Stater (Gold, 18 mm, 7.61 g), 'Regenbogenschüsselchen, Blattkranz mit Vogelkopf/Kreuz mit Voluten' type. Head of a bird to left; below to right, ƧAV; all within wreath. Rev. Four-pointed star; above, three pellets; below, two volutes and small pellet; all within cup-shaped incuse. Dembski -. Flesche 305. Kellner, Manching, type II E var. (no letters). Künker 226 (2013), 69. Leu 16 (2024), 16. Extremely rare. Struck from somewhat worn dies and with light marks, otherwise, very fine.Only a very few examples of this inscribed type have been discovered so far. The piece from the Flesche collection (Flesche 305) is among them and is often incorrectly cited in auction catalogues, possibly because the legend is barely discernible due to a weak strike, and cataloguers may not bother to read the accurate description carefully. On our piece, however, the ƧAV is much clearer. Its meaning remains uncertain. The most likely explanation is that it represents a personal name beginning with Sau... (or Aus...?), such as Sausonios, Sauromatos, or Sauletos, to name just a few examples, but this must remain speculative