A Celtic gold stater from the vicinity of Radoboj (Croatia)

Abstract

Around 1840, a gold coin was discovered near Radoboj (northwestern Croatia), a Celtic imitation of a gold stater of Alexander III of type Athena/Nike. In 2019, during archaeological excavation of the Roman temple at Frauenberg, near Leibnitz (Austria), two imitations of staters of the same type were excavated. Of these, one coin was minted with the same dies for obverse and reverse as the coin from Radoboj, which undoubtedly testifies to minting in the same mint. In the area of north-western Croatia and eastern Slovenia, four other Athena/Nike staters can be documented at four other sites. To date, 83 Athena/Nike imitations have been discovered in Central Europe, of which 32 coins originate from 26 sites. Seven coins from six sites in the area south of the middle course of the Mura and Drava rivers therefore significantly complement the current record of finds of these earliest Celtic coin finds in Central Europe. At the same time, it proves that the minting of this group of imitations can be attributed to the local Celtic tribes sometime in the middle of the 3rd century BC.