SOUTHERN GAUL. Allobroges. Mid to late 2nd century BC. Drachm (Silver, 15 mm, 2.34 g, 9 h). Laureate male head to right. Rev. IALIKOV[ESI] (in Lepontic) Horse's head to right. CCCBM II, S186. DT 3046. Scheers 45. Darkly toned. Somewhat porous, otherwise, 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.