CENTRAL EUROPE. Helvetii. Viros, circa 75/50-25 BC. Quinarius (Silver, 13 mm, 1.53 g, 3 h). VIROS Celticized male bust to left, wearing torque with four pendants; staff surmounted by torque protruding from head. Rev. Horse springing left; above, carnyx to right; below, round shield decorated with a star of six rays. DT -. Frey-Kupper, Viros, Fig. 52. LT -. Nick p. 70, ill. 58, 6. SLM 875. Extremely rare and of great historical importance. The reverse struck somewhat off center, otherwise, very fine.


Frey-Kupper reads the obverse legend of this highly interesting issue as VIROS, corresponding to the Celtic uiros, meaning 'man'. However, as she notes, it is almost certainly the name of an otherwise unknown local nobleman or moneyer. The Viros-quinarii are closely connected to those bearing the name Vatico, with which they share a documented find spot in Avenches. Three additional examples were discovered near the oppidum of Altenburg-Rheinau, approximately 25 kilometers north of Zurich. With only about fifteen examples recorded by Frey-Kupper, the quinarius in the name of Viros ranks among the great rarities in the coinage of the Helvetii and represents one of the earliest coins ever produced in Switzerland.