CENTRAL EUROPE. Boii. Nonnos, circa 44-30 BC. Tetradrachm (Silver, 26 mm, 17.00 g, 5 h), Bratislava oppidum. Bare-headed male bust to left; before, branch with berries. Rev. NONNO[S] Horseman galloping to right, holding sword in his right hand; all within linear-arch border. Flesche 490 (this coin). Göbl, Hexadrachmen, pl. 6, XIV/3, 1 (same dies). Lanz 85 (same dies). Paulsen pl. 33, 774-7 (same dies). Very rare. An exceptional piece, beautifully toned and of vigorous Celtic style, with a particularly impressive obverse. The reverse struck slightly off center, otherwise, good very fine.



This highly impressive tetradrachm was definitively produced in the Bratislava oppidum, located in what is now the capital of Slovakia. Archaeological excavations have uncovered a Celtic mint in this area, where over 1,000 coins have been found in situ. Most of these coins are tetradrachms, bearing Celtic names such as Ainorix, Biatec, Iantumarus, Busu, and Nonnos, as seen on this piece. It is widely believed that these names represent prominent figures in Celtic society, possibly chieftains or officials overseeing coin production, similar to practices in Rome.

Roman influence on the coinage from the Bratislava oppidum is evident both in the motifs and in the use of the Latin alphabet. The exact dating of these coins is debated, but it is generally agreed that production ceased with the destruction of the oppidum, traditionally linked to the activities of the Dacian king Burebista († 44 BC) in the region. However, as is often the case when archaeological destruction layers are tied to specific historical events or figures, recent research suggests a more complex picture. As a result, it is now believed that the oppidum may have continued to exist until the late 1st century BC.