Eastern Europe Celtic Tribes of the Danube Region
Bronze Proto-money Trading Token of “Triskeles Money”
16mm x 17mm (5.06 grams)
Circa 500-300 B.C.
The ancient Celts used proto-money trading tokens like this to conduct trades before the introduction of coins to the area and possibly even afterwards, at least for trade between each other. This is called triskeles money because of it’s shape and is a name that could be assigned to it. The ancient Celts would carry this type of money on a string around their body such as in a necklace fashion. A benefit to this type of money is that it allowed for a basic unit of exchange above barter, perhaps of a type recognized as money for a certain region. This allowed for the basic the benefits of money as it is used in today’s world and the ability to have a flourishing free market economy. An important part of ancient history of money as it developed and progressed. Very rare type as most Celtic proto-money is what is known as “wheel money” or “ring money” along with second most plentiful being “bell money”.

Eastern Europe
Celtic Danube Region
Bronze “Ring or Wheel or Roulles” Proto-money Trading Token of Triskeles Shape
35mm x 11mm (3.56 grams)
Circa 500-100 B.C.

The ancient Celts proto-money trading tokens like this to conduct trades before the introduction of coins to the area and perhaps even afterwards.

This is a type I have never seen before in the Triskeles shape.

Eastern Europe
Celtic Danube Region
Bronze “Ring” or “Wheel” or “Roulles” money
25mm x 2mm (3.54 grams)
Circa 500-100 B.C.

The ancient Celts proto-money trading tokens like this to conduct trades before the introduction
of coins to the area and possibly even afterwards.

Celtic Arrowhead Proto-Money
City of Istros in the Black Sea Area & Eastern Danube Region
Cast Bronze 39mm x 10mm (2.36 grams) circa 700-600 B.C.
Reference: SNG Black Sea 218
Arrowhead-shaped proto-money trading token.

The ancient Celts from the Eastern Danube and Black Sea areas used proto-money like this to conduct trades before the introduction of coins to the area.

Eastern Europe  Celtic Tribes of the Danube Region
Bronze “Bell Money” 22mm x 19mm (6.60 grams)
Circa 500-300 B.C.
The ancient Celts used proto-money trading tokens like this to conduct trades before the introduction of coins to the area and possibly even afterwards, at least for trade between each other. This is called bell money because of it’s shape and therefore there is no clapper inside as it was used for currency. The ancient Celts would carry this type of money on a string around their body such as in a necklace fashion. A benefit to this type of money is that they can be easily stacked and counted, and allowed for a basic unit of exchange above barter. This allowed for the basic the benefits of money as it is used in today’s world and the ability to have a flourishing free market economy. An important part of ancient history of money as it developed and progressed.

Eastern Europe
Celtic Danube Region
Bronze “Ring or Wheel or Roulles” Proto-money or Trading Token
38mm x 4mm (7.30 grams)
Circa 500-100 B.C.

The ancient Celts proto-money trading tokens like this to conduct trades before the introduction of coins to the area and perhaps even afterwards.

Eastern Europe
Celtic Danube Region
Bronze “Ring” or “Wheel” or “Roulles” money
23mm x 11mm (14.10 grams)
Circa 500-100 B.C.

The ancient Celts proto-money trading tokens like this to conduct trades before the introduction of coins to the area and possibly even afterwards.

Eastern Europe
Celtic Danube Region
Bronze “Ring” or “Wheel” or “Roulles” money
23mm x 5mm (9.79 grams)
Circa 500-100 B.C.

The ancient Celts proto-money trading tokens like this to conduct trades before the introduction of coins to the area and possibly even afterwards.

Celtic Tribe of Eatern Europe
Making coins in style of Greek king Philip II – King of Macedon: 359-336 B.C.
Silver Tetradrachm 25mm (13.53 grams) under unknown Celtic Tribe circa 300-200 B.C.
Laureate head of Zeus right.
Youth on horseback right.

* Numismatic Note: The Celtic peoples would issue their own versions of the coins of their neighbors, such as the Greeks which have their own unique style to behold. Quality ancient Celtic coin. The Celts of Eastern Europe imitated ancient Greek coins of the time period, this one of Philip II. King Philip II of Macedonia was father of Alexander the Great and his coins referred to his Olympic victory. The reason they did this as they traded with the Greeks and their coins were popular and recognized for trade, so they struck their own. You can see the Cetlic style showing on this coin. 

Celtic Tribe of the Danube
Making coins in style of the Greek city of Thasos on Island in the Thracian Sea
Silver Tetradrachm 32mm (16.57 grams) Struck by the Danubian Celts circa 148-50 B.C.
Reference: S-215; BMC-Celtic-221; Lanz-967
Head of young Dionysos right, wreathed with ivy and with band across forehead.
HPAKΛΕΟΥΣ ΣΩΤΗΡΟΣ ΘΑΣΙΩΝ – Hercules, naked, standing left, holding club, lion’s skin over left arm; monogram in field to left.

* Numismatic Note: The Celtic peoples would issue their own versions of the coins of their neighbors, such as the Greeks which have their own unique style to behold. Quality ancient Celtic coin. The Celts of the Danube imitated ancient Greek coins of the time period, this one of the city of Thasos in Thrace. The reason they did this as they traded with the Greeks and their coins were popular and recognized for trade, so they struck their own. You can see the Cetlic style showing on this coin.

A rich and fertile island off the southern coast of Thrace, Thasos possessed prolific gold mines and had a controlling interest in many of the silver mines on the mainland.

Celtic Tribe of Gallia Cisalpina
Silver Drachm 15mm (3.36 grams) Struck circa 2nd Century B.C.
in the style of the Ancient Greek coins of Massalia
Reference: De La Tour 2126
Head of Nymph right.
ΜΕΣΣΑ, lion standing right.

The Celts were interesting groups people who made their coins in the styles of the Greek cities and kings they were surrounded by to facilitate trade. Celtic coins have a unique artistic beauty of their own and the style is easily recognizable as they are more stylized than their Greek or Roman counterparts.

Celtic Tribes of Central Gaul
The Sequani Tribe
Potin Unit 20mm (5.33 grams) Struck circa 2nd-1st Century B.C.
Reference: Castelin – de la Tour 5393 Slg. Danicourt 124; LTS 393; BMC 330
Male head left.
Horned horse left, with S-shaped tail.

Veliocasses
Paris Region Lead Wheel Money 22x7mm (1.62 grams)
circa 80-50 B.C.
Set of Three Uncut Wheel Money
From an area North of Paris which was together with a group of Veliocasses bronzes. Three small, solid wheel money unclipped and still in the slightly curved shape of the mold. Very rare and perhaps “never to be seen again” type of item.

Magnentius – Roman Emperor:  350-353 A.D. –
Bronze AE2 20mm (1.78 grams)  Barbarous Issue
Struck in Celtic Gaul, Danube or Britain
Struck circa 350-353 A.D.
Bare-headed, draped and cuirassed bust right; A behind bust.
Two Victories standing facing each other, holding wreath with text.

* Numismatic Note: Very rare issue struck by the Celts of a more scarce emperor.