Description:

Western Europe, France to Germany, ca. 2nd to 1st century BCE. A very rare Celtic "rainbow cup" gold stater. According to popular belief, rainbows left a piece of gold - the rainbow cups - behind where they had touched the ground. 7.5 grams of about 16kt gold. Size: .625" W (1.6 cm)

Gold coins like this very often surfaced on fields after heavy rainfalls. The cup is actually an upside down torque often worn by wealthy Celts. Inside the torque sits 6 rounded discs whose meaning is not well known. Additionally, the symbolism of the opposite side can only be guessed at due to its abstract nature. This unfamiliar, abstract and often purely ornamental imagery was often considered primitive and barbaric up until the 19th century.

Provenance: Ex- Collection of James Farmer, Maryland, collected from major galleries and auction houses between 1995 and 2005

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#120392

  • Condition: About VF

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March 15, 2017 7:00 AM MDT
Louisville, CO, US

Artemis Fine Arts

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