Six silver Celtic coins from Pikulice near Przemyśl. A gift from an accidental finder. The coins’ diameter ranges from 18.1 to 21 mm, their thickness from 5 to 5.7 mm, and their weight is 8.257 to 10.064 g. Silver, struck with a die. The objects date to the 2nd–1st century BC. The coin collection consists of six silver tetradrachms. They have a characteristic flat or concave-convex shape. The obverses of the coins feature single, large, slightly flattened protuberances with a regular, circular or oval outline. The reverses feature a schematic image of a horse facing left. Individual parts of the animal’s body, such as the tail, mane, hocks, or fetlocks, are sometimes highlighted with single dots. Circular dots arranged in various configurations appear above the horse’s back: a quadrangle, a trapezoid, a circle, or a pentagon?, while dots and triangular or teardrop-shaped markings are sometimes visible under its belly. Occasionally, a single dot is also impressed on the horse’s left side. On some coins, the stamp was applied unevenly, leaving part of the horse and other markings invisible, or individual elements of the image were blurred by heavy use. The coins belong to the Vel’ký Bysterec type and likely arrived in Poland as imports from the Púchov culture. This culture flourished in northern and eastern Slovakia from the mid-3rd century BC, and its material traces are associated with the activities of the Celtic tribe of Kotyn. Representatives of this people also appeared north of the Carpathians, in the Sądecka and Żywiecka Basins. La Tène communities brought with them new civilizational achievements: unknown tools, wheel-made pottery, ornaments, and coins they minted. The precise circumstances under which silver coins appeared in the Pikulice area are unknown. However, enclaves of Celtic settlement are documented in the upper and middle San River basin, including the Przemyśl area. The presence of these societies is confirmed by finds of Celtic materials from the Bachórz area and Celto-Dacian materials from Medyka.
Celtic Coins from Pikulice
