Celts, Ambiani (Gaul), AV Stater (60 - 50 BC)

Celts, Ambiani (northern Gaul), AV Stater (60 - 50 B.C.)

Obv.: smooth, hump

Rev.: stylis. Horse between dots and crescents

Historical

The Celtic tribe of the Ambians lived in Gaul in the area of today's Amiens. They lived in close proximity to the Atrebates, Nervians, Bellovacians and Caletians. The tribal name of the Ambians means "those from two sides" and is probably meant to refer to their settlement area on both sides of the river.

The Ambians are mentioned for the first time by Iulius Caesar in "De Bello Gallico". There, according to Caesar, in 51 BC the tribe was involved with 10.000 warriors in the coalition of the Bellovacians, Caletians, Aucelians, Veliocassians and Atrebates, as well as in the resistance against the conquest of the north of present-day France by Roman troops. Caesar counts the Ambians among the Belgae. Their tribes were primarily of Celtic origin, but differed from the Gauls and Aquitans in language and culture.

After the invasion of the Romans by Caesar, the coalition of the Begian tribes began to strike coins of almost the same weight and similar design. For this purpose, they took the two-sided type of the Ambians as a model. The coins were considered stable in weight and purity, and at the same time they were the first common currency of the allied peoples.