Two Exceptional Bronzes of Pixtilos

Sale: Triton XIII, Lot: 2. Estimate $1000.  Closing Date: Monday, 4 January 2010.  Sold For $1100. This amount does not include the buyer’s fee.

CELTIC, Northwest Gaul. Carnutes. Pixtilos. Circa 50-30 BC. Æ 16mm (3.66 g, 6h). Bearded head right; PIXTILO-S around / Goddess seated left, holding bird in extended right hand; floral ornament to left and right. Scheers, Pixtilos 9-10; D&T 2469; Depeyrot, NC V, 87; CCCBM III S101. Superb EF, dark green patina.

The historical figure of Pixtilos is unknown except for this series of coinage. S. Scheers wrote the definitive article on these coins (S. Scheers, "Les monnayage post-césarien des années 40-30 av. J.-C.: les monnaies a la légende PIXTILOS" in RN 1979), in which she identified 10 varieties and ascribed them to the Carnutes tribe, circa 50-30 BC. All of the types in the series show Roman influences, and reflect the good relations between the tribe and Rome during this period. It is most likely that Pixtilos was a local chieftain in the tribe.