These people inhabited the country centered on the modern counties of Berkshire and Oxfordshire. Originally from Gaul, their continental predecessors had in 56 B.C. joined forces with their neighbours the Nervii to field 15,000 tribesmen in opposition to Julius Caesar. During the expeditions of 55 and 54 B.C., Commius was to take a central role as Caesar's ambassador to the British tribes who opposed the Roman general. Commius was later to turn against his former friend and led the Atrebates in an unsuccessful attempt to relieve Vercingatorix during the Siege of Alesia in 53 B.C. Now the enemy of Caesar, Commius fled the continent in 51 B.C., and made with his retinue to Britain, where his descendants were destined to rule part of the island until the coming of Rome in 43 A.D.

Gold, 1.31 grams; 12.21 mm. Circa 40 B.C. Obverse: Blank apart from a raised pellet/nipple off-centre. Reverse: Mixture of stars, crescents and pellets, irregular abstatract motif of unknown significance. Coin Index Registration Number at Oxford University: CCI 08.8251. VA 1229 - 1. Not in Coins of England. Type classified as Rare by the CCI. Extremely Fine. Found Oxfordshire. Excessively rare variant with exergual line, only two other recorded by the time the last one we can find was sold, on Chris Rudd's list 70, July 2003, No 19, Ex. Chris King collection.

Gold, 1.31 grams; 12.21 mm. Circa 40 B.C. Obverse: Blank apart from a raised pellet/nipple off-centre. Reverse: Mixture of stars, crescents and pellets, irregular abstatract motif of unknown significance. Coin Index Registration Number at Oxford University: CCI 08.8251. VA 1229 - 1. Not in Coins of England. Type classified as Rare by the CCI. Extremely Fine. Found Oxfordshire. Excessively rare variant with exergual line, only two other recorded by the time the last one we can find was sold, on Chris Rudd's list 70, July 2003, No 19, Ex. Chris King collection. SOLD

John Sills of the Celtic Coin Index at Oxford University writes: "Very much a south coast issue from West Sussex and Hampshire. Again this has not been studied in any detail but undoubtedly early; derived ultimately from the Gallo-Belgic D, possibly via the heavier geometric quarters, and probably dating from the 40’s B.C. Currently rated as Rare."

Celtic Coin Book References:

S = Spink, Coins of England and the United Kingdom
M = The Coinage of Ancient Britain by R.P. Mack
VA = R.D. Van Arsdell, Celtic Coinage in Britain
BMC = British Museum Catalogues, D Allen & R Hobbs
CCI = Celtic Coin Index at Oxford University