22 November 2022
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Several Iron Age coins realised world record prices in Chris Rudd’s latest sale held in Norwich on 20 November.
A silver half unit which was speculatively associated with Queen Cartimandua’s lover, Vellocatus, realised £8,000; a silver unit of Boduoc (‘Battle Crow’) fetched £4,600; and a silver unit of Diassu who, according to Dr John Sills, may have been a Druid as well as a ruler of the Catuvellauni, went for £2,400.
“These rare silver coins were all sold for more than twice the estimated prices, each achieving a new world record result for its type,” claims Elizabeth Cottam, director of Chris Rudd Ltd.
Liz believes that these three coins all performed unexpectedly well, not simply on account of their high grade and high rarity, but also because there was apparently an interesting historical story behind each of them.
She says: “Every Celtic coin has a story to tell and I think it’s the duty of the dealer or auctioneer to at least try to discover what that story is and to present it to the collector.
“It wasn’t just Celtic silver that did well in November. A very pretty Norfolk Wolf gold stater, published in Treasure Hunting in 1999 and formerly in the fabulous John Follows collection, realised £5,000, five times our lower estimate.”
The next Chris Rudd all-Celtic sale is on Sunday 15 January 2023.
