This reproduction of a Celtic stater from the Trinovantes tribe is cast directly from the original coin and made of pewter, which is gilded with 22-karat gold.
The folding case-style packaging features an opening on the front, where the coin is housed in a transparent blister pack. The front is adorned with a motif from the Book of Kells and depictions of coins from this collection, while the interior features images of other Celtic artifacts. The package includes historical information about the coin, the Celts, and their coinage.
This stater was minted by the Trinovantes, a Celtic tribe that lived north of the Thames in what is now Essex and Suffolk. Their main center was Camulodunum (modern-day Colchester). The obverse of the coin depicts wings above a laurel wreath, while the reverse features a galloping horse.
The Celts were a diverse group of Iron Age tribal societies whose roots extended into Central Europe and whose culture flourished from around 750 BCE. They spoke related languages and shared similar customs and religious beliefs. Beginning around 450 BCE, groups of Celts also began arriving in Britain.
Starting around 150 B.C., the first coins began to be imported into Britain from ancient Gaul (modern-day France) and Belgium. Domestic coin production began around 70 B.C. and was initially based on these imported models. Before long, a number of individual tribes were minting their own coins, each using its own distinctive motifs.
Celtic coins were primarily made of gold and silver and featured motifs of gods, chariots, horses, wolves, warriors, or barley. Some coins also bore inscriptions identifying the tribe or the ruling chieftain who had them minted.
After the Roman invasion of Britain in 43 AD, the production of Celtic coins declined significantly. Following the suppression of Queen Boudicca’s rebellion around 61 AD, Celtic coinage in Britain came to an end.
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