Incredibly rare ancient Caratacus Celtic gold coin discovered near Newbury which sold for £88k going under the hammer again from Stanley Gibbons Baldwin’s

One of the most important ancient coins ever discovered which was found near Newbury is up for auction next month having previously sold for £88,000.

The unique Celtic gold coin dates back to 43AD – just after the Roman invasion of Britain – when it was minted by Caratacus, an Iron Age British warlord whose success expanding his tribe’s territory likely prompted the Roman conquest.

Caratacus resisted the invasion for almost a decade using guerrilla warfare but he was eventually defeated.

He was sentenced to death but made an eloquent speech in Latin before his execution that persuaded the Emperor Claudius to spare him.

The coin, which was discovered by a detectorist in a field near Newbury in 2019, was struck at Calleva – modern day Silchester – it is the first gold coin of Caratacus to be found.

The coin is considered to be important because the inscription CVNO confirms that Caratacus was a son of Cunobelinus, the legendary Old King Cole and the Cymbeline of Shakespeare.

Despite his fame for resisting the Romans, for centuries it was thought no Caratacus coins actually existed.

Dr John Evans described their existence as ‘dubious at best’ in his 1864 numismatic text The Coins of the Ancient Britons.

Soon after the coin was found, Dr John Sills, author of Divided Kingdoms: the Iron Age gold coinage of southern England, said: “Just when you think you’ve seen everything, something completely unexpected turns up out of left field – the find of a lifetime.

“The Caratacus stater is the most important single Iron Age coin ever found in this country, the only known gold coin of one of Britain’s greatest resistance leaders.”

When the coin went to auction in 2020, it was thought it could fetch £30,000.

In reality, it sold for nearly three times that at £88,000.

The coin is going under the hammer again on Wednesday, March 12, from auction house Stanley Gibbons Baldwin’s.

Dominic Chorney, an ancient coin specialist for Stanley Gibbons Baldwin’s, said: “While we often sell extremely rare coins at Baldwin’s, it’s unusual to offer something completely unique and of national importance.

“We’re all excited to be auctioning this beautiful piece of British history.”

Stanley Gibbons Baldwin’s is having a valuation day in Newbury on Thursday, February 27, at The Chequers Hotel between 10.30am and 3.30pm.

Those interested in having their stamps, coins, cards and gold valued should email valuationday@sgbaldwins.com to book an appointment.