FIVE PIECE SET OF CELTIC BRONZE RING MONEY - Germany

IRON AGE - 3rd - 1st CENTURY BC

This is a set of 5 intact rings of ancient Celtic bronze ring money from the 1st to 3rd century B.C..  Bronze rings were worn as a sign of wealth and traded as currency amongst the Celtic tribes.  This set includes 5 excellent and complete examples showing original bronze patina.  Found in Germany, once home to Celtic occupation.  This superb set of five is being sold for the price of what many sell ONE of these rings for.  NO RESTORATION OR REPAIR.  Antiquities like these are surely to appreciate in the years to come as all countries that such treasures could once be found have now instituted strict laws prohibiting their prospecting and removal. 

Around 2000 B.C., barbarian Celtic tribes invaded Europe.  They first inhabited regions across Eastern Europe now known as Hungary, Bulgaria, Romania and the Balkans.  During the Bronze Age, they move westward and by the Iron Age in the 8th to 5th centuries BC, these tribes make their homes in what is now southwest Germany, eastern France and parts of Switzerland and Austria.  This era is known as the Hallstat period named after a Celtic archaeological type-site in a lakeside village in Austria.  After that, in the La Tene period, western Europe becomes heavily occupied by the Celts as they invade much of Germany, France, the Iberian Peninsula (Spain and Portugal), the British Islands and Ireland.  After this time, Celtic tribes spread eastward again, moving into northern Italy, Bohemia, Silesia, the Balkans and even into present day Turkey with a tribe called the Galatians establishing a Celtic city called Galatia.  During the 1st century BC, the Celts were at the height of their power and were the dominant ethnic group in much of Europe, even ruling over the Germanic tribes.  Among the many military victories the ancient Celts can lay claim to are the sacking of the cities of Rome and Delphi.

The Celts were largely a decentralized military aristocracy made up of independent chieftains ruling various geographical regions.  They were famous to fight just for the sake of fighting and often, they were employed as mercenaries of the great armies of ancient times.  Along with their reputations of chivalry, courage and maniacal bravery, their more aggressive tendencies were offset by a great sensitivity to the arts and philosophy.  Highly unusual at the time, the Celts viewed both men AND women with equality, holding women in high regard with their matriarchal religion.

CELTIC ARTIFACTS ARE UNCOMMON - ONE OF THE EARLIEST FORMS OF MONEY

1" - .5" diameters approximately per ring

SOLD     C003     INCLUDES DISPLAY BOX     Actual Item - One Only

CLICK HERE TO SEE MORE ANCIENT ARTIFACTS AND WEAPONS FOR SALE

90