Profile of Apollo to the right, not laureate, with carefully arranged hair made of many ‘S’ and ‘C’ shaped locks. The base is beaded and rather linear., Biga to the left, with only one horse visible, driven by a leaning charioteer holding a staff symbolised as an extension of his arm; below, a triskel turning to the right. Below, earth line., A specimen of the highest rarity! Despite its advanced wear from circulation, including several scratches, this type of 1/4 stater is almost impossible to find in the different auctions. This type is listed in L.-P. Delestrée's publication as having been produced during the 2nd century BC, and he differentiates it from the better-identified ‘triskel’ types (Dt. 3033-3042 & 3071-3073), dated for the first group during the same period, and for the second between the end of the 2nd century and the first tier of the 1st century BC. We therefore have here a proto-example of this second series attributed to the peoples of the East, whose area of origin covers eastern France (Jura, Doubs, Aube, etc.), Germany (Baden-Württemberg) and north-western Switzerland. In fact, this extremely rare example shows a profile to the right with no laurel wreath, but also with a minimal celtic style appearance, and on the reverse, the biga advancing to the left, whereas on classical types from the same period or later, the profile, is more of a celtic style, is also laureate and the biga is advancing to the right.
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