Totally clueless

[whitetd49]

I've tried to post this 3 times, grump.  Check this out:

[whitetd49]

I'll try the picture again:

[whitetd49]

OK, the coin is small, 17 mm.  It is not bronze but silver base metal.  The style does not seem to fit many Celtic coins, obverse with portrait left.  The reverse is a remarkable pictograph.  A central figure is surrounded by a large footprint, lower left, a horse head, lower right, a second figure attacking the first with a spear, left, and a third figure observing (harder to see) upper right.  It seems to be a scene or event in a tale or myth  of some god/king/warrior.  Any help would be greatly appreciated!

[Tacitvs]

The reverse is interesting... crude but strikingly similiar to the Fel Temp reverse, though it looks like a variation on the theme rather than a strict copy.  My guess is a Celtic Imitation of a Constantius II era Fel Temp.

[whitetd49]

You know, that never occured to me.  You may be right but the barbaric fel temps that I have seen had a garbled latin inscription, were bronze, and were generally of a similar thickness to the imperial issue.  The lighting that I used makes the coin look too brownish, it is gray and the planchet really is thick and chunky composed of silver base metal.  On the other hand, the Celts certainly did make their copies with a liberal artistic license.  Any other ideas?

[Robert_Brenchley]

Its a bit far removed from the official fel temps. By that time there was no independent 'Celtic' coinage, though Celtic styles continued to come through, in the Tetricus barbs for instance. Its more likely to be a pre-occupation coin, at a guess.

[whitetd49]

Ok, it seems that it will remain a mystery for a while.  Can anyone recommend someone that might shed some light or should I send it staightaways to the BM?

[Robert_Brenchley]

Try the BM and let us know what they say.

[Pertinax]

It is barbarian imitation of a FEL TEMP. I have seen them so crude before. Very similar actualy. A very nice one.
Will try to find the pic back.

[whitetd49]

Thanks Ivo!  Nice call Tacitvs!  Here is a pic of a Fel Temp barb.  Note the garbled legend on the reverse.  

[whitetd49]

I found this at a site on Germanic symbology.  Do you suppose the coin's reverse depicts the killing of an Ice Giant by Thor?
Quote:
Footprint: the footprint is a symbol of the god Njord/Nerthus, it may have been derived from the Scandinavian legend in which the god Thor (Thunar) killed the father of a Frost Giantess named Skadi, as retribution she was allowed to choose one of the gods as her husband, the trick was that the gods were positioned behind a curtain and that she had to pick one by looking at their feet, she chose the most beautiful feet hoping that they belonged to Balder, but the god attached to them turned out to be Njord.
The footprint was associated with fertility and the Vanir (Wanen) gods.

[whitetd49]

Well, it has been over a year.  That's patience!  Anyone care to offer any more insight into this enigmatic coin?