CELTIC, Southern Gaul. Allobroges. Late 2nd century BC. Drachm (Silver, 15 mm, 2.21 g, 6 h), 'drachme à la legende IAZVS' type. Laureate male head to left. Rev. IAZVS (in Lepontian) Horse galloping left; below, wheel. DT 3054. LT 2904. SLM 25. A beautifully toned example of this interesting issue. Slightly porous as usual, otherwise, good very fine.


Lepontic was a Celtic dialect spoken in parts of Raetia and Cisalpine Gaul, mostly around the Lago Maggiore, Lago di Lugano and Lago di Como. It is attested on coins and in a number of inscriptions written in the 'alphabet of Lugano', a local script derived from the Etruscan alphabet, the most commonly used alphabet in pre-Roman Northern Italy.