Sale: CNG 72, Lot: 32. Estimate $500.  Closing Date: Wednesday, 14 June 2006.  Sold For $650. This amount does not include the buyer’s fee.

CELTIC, Northeast Gaul. Morini. Circa 58-50 BC. AV Quarter Stater (1.36 g). Uniface Tree Type. Plain obverse / Central bar bisected by rooted tree; pellet-in-annulet and two shield-like ornaments above; pellet-in-annulets and bent line below; crescent and three-pronged ornament in exergue. D&T 253; Scheers 118; De la Tour 8722; cf. Van Arsdell 69-3; SCBC -. Good VF.

From the Andrew Wayne Collection.

If the central motif is intended to be a rooted tree, as it would appear to be, then it may either represent a Celtic version of the ‘tree of life’ or perhaps an oak tree, which was held to be sacred by the druids. The bent line may be a stream or stylized thunderbolt.