89 - Velemer ohne Gesichtsrand Type

Unique ID: 89

Technical details

DataDescriptionProvenanceReferences

Denomination	Tetradrachm	Metal	Silver
Area	Eastern Europe	Region	Pannonia
Issuing Authority	Unknown	Issuer	Unknown
Weight	10.16g	Diameter	22.88mm
Rarity	Very Common (200+)	Date	200 BC to 100 BC (see note about dating)

Obverse Legend	No Legend
Reverse Legend	No Legend
Obverse Description	Abstract head of beardless Zeus facing right. The die is worn, but you can still see the very end of the pearl diadem.
Reverse Description	Abstract horse facing left. The horse is sinuous with a high rear, delicate legs, and an angular face. The row of pellets between its legs may represent a hobble (as seen on other Eastern Celtic tetradrachms) or the ground. The rider mainly consists of a torso and head, but there is an unobtrusive foot under the horse, suggesting a leg on the other side of its body. The head is surrounded by stalked pellets, although only two can be seen on this coin.

Bought from MA-SHOPS “Monetarium”

Lanz	Lanz 750. Velemer ohne Gesichtsrand Type

The Velemer Tetradrachm is named after a village in modern day Hungry where a hoard containing 60 of these coins was found in March 1899. Pink (“Münzprägung der Ostkelten und Ihrer Nachbarn”) sub-divided the type into “ohne Gesichtsrand” and “mit Gesichtsrand” sub-types. “Gesichtsrand” means “face rim” and it refers to a pellet line around the neck and chin. This coin doesn’t have that, so it’s “ohne Gesichtsrand”. He subdivided the “ohne Gesichtsrand” into “Mit Kugelkranz” and “Mit Rosettenkopf” types (with spherical crown and with rosette head) which seems to refer to the head of the rider on the reverse, but I’ve never seen that used anywhere. I think this is “Mit Rosettenkopf” (rosette head).

The type is ultimately derived from Philip II of Macedon’s Tetradrachms, but the immediate predecessor is the Kroisbacher Mit Reiterstumpf type.