NORTHWEST GAUL. Lexovii. Circa 60-30/25 BC. AE (Bronze, 13 mm, 2.10 g, 6 h). [ЄΓΘA] - LIXOVIO Draped half-length facing male bust, wearing torc and holding another torc in his right hand before his chest. Rev. [MAGVPE...] Horseman galloping to right, head facing and wielding sword in his right hand, riding down fallen enemy. DT 2490 (this coin). Flesche -. LT 7146. SLM -. Very rare. Beautifully patinated and with highly intriguing iconography. Struck on a somewhat short flan, otherwise, nearly extremely fine.



What stands out in this piece is the striking similarity between the impressive frontal bust on the obverse and the head of the horseman on the reverse: it is evidently the same figure. The depiction of the frontal bust somewhat recalls the Medusa on the denarii of L. Plautius Plancus (Crawford 453/1a) from 47 BC, suggesting that the Celtic artist may have drawn inspiration for his very unusual piece from this source.