Collection areas
Celtic coins (3rd – 1st century BC)
Celtic coins (3rd – 1st century BC)
Celtic coinage describes the coinage of the Celts in the period from 300 BC. Due to the lack of documents, archaeological finds of coins are among the most important sources for research into the Celtic peoples. Here you can find out what makes up the independent sub-area of numismatics.
After reading this article you know:

  • What makes Celtic coins so special.
  • In which period Celtic coins were minted.
  • What the value of Celtic coins depends on today.
1.
What are Celtic Coins?

Celtic coins were minted by Celtic tribes and kingdoms during the Iron Age (c. 800 BC - AD 43). The Celts were a warlike people who lived across much of Europe and developed advanced skills in metalworking during the Iron Age. 

Celtic coins were minted from various materials such as gold, silver and bronze and often bear the names of Celtic tribes, kings or gods. The coins were used for trade and to pay for goods and services. Some coins also had religious significance. 

Especially for archaeologists and historians, Celtic coins are of great importance, as they offer insights into the economy, society and culture of the Celtic peoples. Many specimens can be found in museums around the world today and are appreciated by collectors.

2.
Where did the Celts live?

The Celts, whose name goes back to the Greek historian Herodotus (Gr. keltoi = "the brave"), once lived throughout northern Europe, although there was never a "Celtic state formation" but at most occasional "alliances of convenience" of the individual tribes. From Turkey in the east to Ireland in the northwest, Celtic art and culture determined the lives of people from the 5th to the 1st century B.C. Since the Celts had no written culture of their own, our knowledge of them derives largely from the writings of their Greek and Roman opponents.

Beginning in the late 3rd century, Celtic coinage imitated Greek models and probably arose in response to the difficulties of bartering with the expanding Greek colonies of the Mediterranean. Throughout their history, the Celts minted gold, silver, potin (a copper-tin alloy) and bronze for their coins. The best-known Celtic gold coins are the so-called "rainbow bowls" - small, plate-like embossings of Celtic coins with abstract symbolic patterns. 

Popular belief thought to recognize a rainbow in the Celtic coin designs, which is how the coinages got their name. The individual settlement regions (Britannia, Gallia or Hispania) and tribes (Vindelicans, Boians or Carnutes) can be distinguished on the basis of stylistic features of the coinage. Celtic coinage ended at the turn of the century, when almost all areas formerly settled by the Celts were conquered by the Romans.

3.
Celtic coins today

Today, Celtic coins are valuable historical artifacts that can be found in museums and private collections around the world. However, many Celtic coins are also still buried in the ground and discovered by archaeologists and amateur metal seekers. 

The value of Celtic coins depends on several factors, such as the material they were minted from, their state of preservation, and their rarity. Some Celtic coins are so rare that they can be traded for large sums of money, while others are affordable to collectors. 

It is important to note that trade in Celtic coins and other archaeological artifacts is regulated by national and international laws. In many countries, it is illegal to excavate, sell or export archaeological artifacts without a permit. Collectors and investors should therefore ensure that they comply with applicable laws and regulations to ensure the protection of cultural heritage.

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