Watch List notes:

CELTIC, Lower Danube. Uncertain tribe. Circa late 3rd to early 2nd century BC. Tetradrachm (Silver, 27 mm, 17.44 g, 12 h), imitating Alexander III of Macedon. Head of Herakles to right, wearing lion skin headdress. Rev. PΛΣIΛEΩΣ - ΛNΞΛNV (sic!) Zeus seated left on low throne, holding long scepter in his left hand and eagle standing right with closed wings in his right; to left, monogram of KA; below throne, monogram of XΑ; grain ear on exergue line. Dembski -. Lanz -. OTA -. Cf. Price 929 (for prototype). Very rare. A nicely toned example of early imitative style. Minor nicks, otherwise, good very fine.


The carefully cut and well readable letters and monograms indicate that the Celtic artist who produced these dies was familiar with the Greek alphabet. He obviously did not speak the language, however, since he completely blundered the meaning of the legend!