Lifelike Bull Potins

[John Conduitt]

There is a group of Cantian potins (from Kent) that sits as an intermediary stage between the thick, crude Thurrock type and the later abstract types like the Striated and Angular Bull, at least according to Ancient British Coins (ABC).

Van Arsdell, meanwhile, contends that this group in fact comprises Britain's first coins (and not the Thurrock Potin). He claims these were then copied by the Trinovantes in making Thurrock Potins, and developed by the Cantii into the more abstract versions. Either way, both agree they are an early part of the evolution of Britain's first coins.

Holman has revised the whole sequence post-Thurrocks in detail, although he also has these first.

They start with what Van Arsdell calls the 'Lifelike Bull', which he claims was cast directly from the coinage of Masallia (as shown in my introduction to these coins). The next designs were made not by casting (although still on cast flans) but by the use of a stylus. The first of these was the 'Abstract Bull' (or 'Evans Bull' in ABC).

Evans Bull Potin Unit, 100-85BC

Cantii tribe. Cast potin, 20mm, 2.24g. Celticised, naturalistic head of Apollo facing left. Celticised, relatively life-like bull butting right, raised wavy tail; pellet on body of bull (ABC 147; VA 104).

This gives us another link in the gradual evolution of Apollo and the bull from the Massalia coins to the abstract potins over 50 years or so.




See also:
Britain's First Coins
Thurrock Potins (Trinovantian A)
Striated Potins (Cantian C)
Angular Bull Potins (Cantian D)
Dump Potins (Cantian E)

Edited January 3 by John Conduitt

[JayAg47]

Here’s a coin, definitely not Celtic, but a bull potin! 

Pallavas of Kanchi, circa 7th century AD.