Ave!

Celtic Proto Money, Trade Ingot! c. 700-400 BC

Copper alloy; 111mm/183gm or 4 1/4 inches/6.4 oz

Con/ As Sand Cast; Dark green patina, otherwise, untouched.

Seller's Note/ Such 'proto money' was used as a trading commodity (currency) before the introduction of struck coins in the Eastern Danube region and the Black sea area by the Celtic tribes and were marketed by their weight. The most common types were simple round rings, while others had a few knobs or lugs that were worn as beads or jewelry in one manner or another.

But this is an ingot and rare as hen's teeth! The smith's simply poked a hole in wet sand and poured in the molten metal. Such heavy ingots could have well been used as ballast in their trading ship. Extremely Rare, this bronze ingot was ground found in a Celtic settlement south of the River Drava.