Vepocunavos. c.AD30-40. Gold stater. 21mm. 4.81g. Inward facing wreath motif with brick-like leaves, row of three small crosses, two opposed crescents in centre, joined by bar and with beaded rosette in each cusp, dolphin-like symbol in four angles of motif./ Lunate horse left, VEPO above (VE ligate), C[NA]VOS below, pellet under head. ABC−, VA−, BMC−, S−. New type, apparently unpublished as such until recently. CCI 20.0114 (this coin). Large scyphate flan of cuprous rose-gold, well centred, boldly struck, most of inscription legible. An important stater of numismatic and historic significance. Believed to be the first of its type to be offered for public sale. Ex Jonathan Cross collection, found in the Mansfield area of Nottingham, 2019. Extremely rare - only two others recorded, both thought to be in private hands. Not in ABC, Van Arsdell, BMC nor Spink. Images: © Chris Rudd Ltd, www.celticcoins.com

The importance of this recently discovered Vepo stater cannot be overstated. The second part of the inscription was initially difficult to decipher. However, when compared with the CNAVO legend on two contemporary silver units, ABC 1944 and 1947 – both with a left-leaning letter N which implies that it contains a ligate letter V – then it was realised that the full inscription was almost certainly intended to be read as Vepocunavos. This means that we now know, for the first time, the full name of the ruler who issued coins inscribed VEP, VEPO or VEPOC – a name that had been lost to history for two thousand years. The discovery of the important Vepocunavos stater has been published in Coin News, April and May 2020; The Searcher, April 2020, and other magazines worldwide (this coin).



ABC_1349 - Epaticcus, Unit, Victory seated right, TASCIOOV around, rev. boar right, tree behind to left, EPAT below, 1.29g/3h (ABC 1349; BMC 2294-2328; VA 581; S 357).