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This scarce ancient Celtic Iberian coin, minted in the ancient Celtic Iberian city of Kastilo by the Oretani people between 125 BC to 101 BC, is a must have for any coin collector. It is over 2100 years old and is sure to be a nice addition to your collection.
The obverse of the coin depicts a male head facing right. The reverse shows a crescent above a bull that is facing right.
Kastilo or Castulo was located in modern-day Cazlona in Linares, province of Jaen. It was the seat of the Oretani, an Iberian tribe that settled in the north of the Guadalquivir valley in the beginning of the 6th century BC. According to tradition, a local princess named Himilce married Hannibal and gained the alliance of the city with the Carthaginian Empire.
In 211 BC, Castulo was the site of Hasdrubal Barca's crushing victory over the Roman army with a force of roughly 40,000 Carthaginian troops plus local Iberian mercenaries. Thereafter, the Romans made a pact with the residents of the city who betrayed the Carthaginians, and they became foederati (allied people) of Rome. Kastilo issued many and diverse coins with both indigenous and Latin inscriptions.
The Oretani people were known for their coins and this one is rare with very few known of this coin.
As with coins of this period, there is a great deal of wear and environmental issues. Add this piece to your collection and let it be a conversation starter with your friends, family, and other collectors.
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