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DNW – Coins, Medals and Antiquities – 1 & 2 December 2021

DNW – Coins, Medals and Antiquities – 1 & 2 December 2021

DNW held an auction on 1 and 2 December 2021. The auction included quite a few detecting finds. All of my selected lots are detecting finds. To view any these lots in the auction catalogue, click on the lot number. The full catalogue can be found here. 

There is a buyer’s premium of  24% (plus VAT) on the hammer price.

 

Featured Lot

Photo: © DNW

Celtic, bronze Carnyx

Estimate: £2,000 – £3,000
Hammer: £3400

This is a detecting find from Suffolk in 2018. For the story of the find see DNW to sell Celtic Carnyx. The auctioneer describes the item as being a Carnyx, which was a wind instrument of Iron Age Celts.

Deskford Carnyx

The only previous recorded carnyx from Britain is the Deskford carnyx which was found in the north-east of Scotland around 1816.

It is wrought from sheet bronze and brass, which helps to date it because brass is not native to Scotland and it would be recycled Roman metal. The suggested date for the Deskford Carnyx is AD 80 – 250.

The auctioneer draws a comparison to this carnyx saying “ the snarling open-mouthed boar with its bristling spine is a compelling argument that it is in fact a miniature sounding bell.

Carnyx

The carnyx was once widespread throughout much of Europe, although only a dozen or so fragments survive.

The instrument is known from depictions on coins and reliefs, notably from Trajan’s Column and one of the plates of the famous Gundestrup cauldron (shown here); there are three carnyx players in the bottom right.

It was used in warfare to incite troops to battle and intimidate opponents. The instrument’s height allowed it to be heard over the heads of the participants in battles or ceremonies.

PAS record

The find was recorded at the PAS as SF-5A50AE. It states that there is no exact parallel for this find.

The PAS record says that the function of the object is uncertain and suggests multiple interpretations. These include a spout for a vessel, a decorative mount a finial mount for the end of a staff. It also suggests that it could represent the finial of an iron firedog, citing a similar find on the database NCL-51AB07.

It also says “Lastly, there is also a striking resemblance between this piece and the form of Later Iron Age carynxes (war-trumpets), which typically depict boars forming the ‘business end’-though of course are vastly larger.

Selection of other lots

Photo: © DNW

Iron Age Stater

British Iron Age stater imitating the ‘à l’oeil’ type of the Suessiones. Found at Lasham, Hampshire in 2021 and recorded at PAS as HAMP-A467C6
Estimate: £700 – £900
Hammer: £1100
Photo: © DNW

Stater of the Atrebates and Regni

Class 2, E type. From the collection of a Hampshire detectorist
Estimate: £800 – £1,000
Hammer: £850
Photo: © DNW

Merovingian Tremissis

Found near Basingstoke, Hampshire in 2021
Estimate: £800 – £1,000
Hammer: £700
Photo: © DNW

Penny of Cuthred

Group i penny minted in Canterbury, moneyer Sigebeorht. Found near West Hendred, Berkshire
Estimate: £1,500 – £1,800
Hammer: £1600
Photo: © DNW

Penny of Æthelheard under Offa

Group II – only the second known example of this type. Found in Dorchester, Dorset in 2021.
Estimate: £2,000 – £2,600
Hammer: £2400
Photo: © DNW

Penny of Wulfred

Reverse legend reads: LVNING MONETA giving the moneyer as Luning.  This is the first known specimen of this moneyer’s work on this type of coinage. Found near Down Hatherley Gloucestershire in October 2021.
Estimate: £800 – £1,000
Hammer: £1300
Photo: © DNW

Penny of Eadwig

Two line type with HERIG ERMO over two lines on the reverse, giving the moneyer as Heriger. Found near Boynton, E. Yorkshire in November 2017
Estimate: £800 – £1,000
Hammer: £2800
Photo: © DNW

Penny of Edward the Martyr

Reverse reads: IVSTVN M O EFERV; moneyer is Iostein and mint York. Found at Westwell, Kent in 2010
Estimate: £2,400 – £3,000
Hammer: £2000
Photo: © DNW

Cut Halfpenny of Stephen, Eustace Fitzjohn

Minted in York. Found near Stamford Bridge, N. Yorkshire in 2015
Estimate: £800 – £1,000
Hammer: £950
Photo: © DNW

Henry VIII, Testoon

Third coinage, Southwark mint. Found at Pengoyffordd, Powys in February 2000
Estimate: £1,000 – £1,200
Hammer: £1300
Photo: © DNW

Denarius of Carausius

Reverse legend reads EXPECTATE VENI: “come, long-awaited one” . Found near Royston, Hertfordshire.
Estimate: £1,500 – £2,000
Hammer: £1900
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