Unique ID: 52
Gallo Belgic Ca2, or GB-Ca2 for short, is the quarter stater that accompanied the ubiquitous GB-Ca staters. These were minted in stages between 125 BC and 58 BC. This coin is class 1 (of 6) so was minted around 125 BC, possibly to help finance the Cimbric wars.
This coin is the first one to have the “two men and a boat” motif on it. This is derived from a die break that occurs on the GB-Aa2 class 6 quarters where the break causes the hairbar to extend to the chin. This forms the “boat” and elements of the wreath form the “men” in the boat. The GB-Ca2 class 1 quarters can still be viewed as a head though as Apollo’s face is still visible (if you know what you are looking for).
The reverse is difficult to interpret, but it’s just a badly broken GB-Aa2 class 6 die showing a right facing horse with a pellet below. It eventually transforms into the broken line and anemone/tree motif seen on later GB-Ca2, GB-D and other geometric quarter staters.
Note that the rarity figure is based on the catalogue in “Gaulish and Early British Gold Coinage” by Dr. John Sills. I doubt it is still excessively rare, but I don’t have any better figures. I haven’t seen that many for sale, so maybe it’s correct.
This is one of three GB-Ca2 quarters (of any class) in my collection (see 45 and 48)
