Potin Unit Rounded Bull / Holman D6 95 BC - 80 BC

Weight

1.6 g

Diameter

15.8 mm

Thickness

NA

Material

Potin

Shape

Round (irregular)

Edge Type

NA

Technique

Cast

Front design

Outline head of Apollo left, usually with neck line, face and nose usually open, eye ring usually with pellet.

Back design

Outline bull left, curved, two crescents above. Exergual line below.

Year of Minting

95 BC - 80 BC

Ruler

NA

Mint location

NA

Mint mark

NA

Orientation

Variable alignment ↺

Inscriptions

NA

Context

Allen Type: J5. Van Arsdell ‘Rounded Bull’. Van Arsdell Classification: Cantian C, Innovative Period and Cantian D, Optimization Period . His corresponding varieties are: VA 119 - 01 (Thin Striations Type, Holman D6/1-2): Head left. Bull left. Thin, parallel striations on one side of the coin. No blobs interrupt the striations. The moulds were produced by scraping blocks of clay flat with a knife or other similar object. VA 125 - 03 (Holman D6/1-2): Apollo left with pellet in eye circle and bull made up of curved lines charging left. David Holman proposes a detailed classification in A New Classification System for the Flat Linear Potin Coinage . This type corresponds with his Group D, which derive from Holman Group C . Holman characterises Group D (Allen F5-7, GC1-2, J1 and J5) as having large flans and striations like Group C but similarities in the obverse to Group E. Crude designs and striations are common. There is often a pellet in the eye ring. The bull is curvilinear with either one or two crescents above, the tail sometimes leading straight into what looks like a crescent but is taken to be part of the tail. Given the variability of the series, Holman suggests a degree of flexibility, where the features given are not taken to be exact. There are seven subgroups in Group D, of which this is the sixth: Subgroup D6 (Allen J5) has an open head, almost always with a pellet in the eye ring, and a curved bull. Striations occur. The coins are smaller, usually 15.5-16.5 mm and 1.3-2.2g, while reverse orientation can be 3h or 9h. Next in the chronological sequence is Holman D7 . The previous type is Holman D5 . The previous group is Holman C and the next is Holman E . The illustrated coin is in the Portable Antiquities Scheme database ( CC BY 2.0 ).

Rarity

Ultra rare

Coin type

Standard circulation

In circulation

No

Demonetized

Yes

Marketplace listings

0