Aux origines des monnayages armoricains : les quarts de statère d'or dits « au pontife forgeron » - article ; n°158 ; vol.6, pg 15-36

Revue numismatique - Année 2002 - Volume 6 - Numéro 158 - Pages 15-36
Abstract. — The so-called « pontiff-smith » quarter staters - from their apparent link with the metalliferous area of the Mauges (southern Anjou) - seem to date from the beginning of the Armorican coinages (third or early second century ВС?). They are very rare (13 known specimens) and very heavy (average weight: 2.0 g), of pure gold (ca. 90 %). They were discovered along the Loire in Anjou, between the regions of Craon and Cholet. The typology on the obverse is inspired by Hellenic coinage (though with degenerate designs), but the reverses present two riddles: on the one hand a little man with strange attributes, without equivalent in the Mediterranean or European Celtic world; on the other hand symbols in the field (at present three in number) possibly borrowed from the Iberian script. They were connected - perhaps wrongly - with the Corbilo emporium mentioned by Polybius via Strabo. Critical survey of all known examples. Analyses by activation. Synthesis of the bibliography.
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22 pages
Source : Persée ; Ministère de la jeunesse, de l’éducation nationale et de la recherche, Direction de l’enseignement supérieur, Sous-direction des bibliothèques et de la documentation.