Gallic currency

The Gallic currencies are ignored still enough. They are also relatively rare because were not always the subject of manufacture in very great quantity and their identification is often difficult. Work of Jean-Baptiste Colbert de Beaulieu as from years 1950 marked the scientific study and history of these currencies, and is still at the base of many current research.

Each Gallic Peuple was independent from the point of view of coining, some more prolix than of others, but it is supposed that the noble metal parts circulated between the close people. The currency makes its appearance as a Gaulle with the Life front century J. - C. by the established Greek colony with Marseilles, then it is spread gradually in the people bordering. In IIe front century J. - C., coining is developed, and the people having gold mines, as the Arvernes strike Statère S which are also a means of affirming their sovereignty and their power. In Ier front century J. - C., the Parisii produce their famous and splendid gold statère to the horse.

Particular characteristics of the Gallic currencies

One finds many primitive “parts” in the shape of wheel with rays, called round slice S. They are molten and not struck and do not have any identification marks.
the round slices and the small parts are either out of bronze or frequently in Potin, alloy of various metals like the tin, the Zinc or the Plomb.

the currencies of the various people have very different styles, more " rustiques" with most elaborate (cf the Atlas of the Gallic currencies of the Tower to have an idea of the diversity of the styles) but which is attached well to the style of the Celtic Art, they often represent animals, the human ones stylized, geometrical forms.

Certaines currencies is clearly inspired by the famous and spread currencies antiquity like the Statère of gold of Philippe II of Macedonia: the Gallic mercenaries had brought back from there to the country and they were used as source of inspiration during decades. The currencies copied or inspired of these statères then take again the profile of Philippe and the quadriga of origin, whose stylization evolves/moves with the wire of time. The initial legend of these currencies, misunderstood of the engravers, evolves/moves, is transformed sometimes into geometrical reason and often ends up disappearing.

Philately

From 1964 to 1977, in France, a Gallic coin was used for to illustrate a series of préoblitérés stamps.

Gallery

Currencies of Arvernes

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