Celtic tetradrachma (Rákosi [Kroisbach] type)

02/2010

Early 2th century BC, silver

This coin type (beardless male head with pearlwreath on the obverse, a horse facing leftwards on the reverse) was named after a coin treasure found at Fertőrákos (in German Kroisbach) in 1910. This rare piece represents one of the most interesting type of the eastern Celtic coin stamping.
This piece was part of a treasure-trove containing Rákosi-type coins found in Burgenland in the recent past. Its curiosity is the new, yet unknown obverse representing a portrait-like, very characteristic male head facing leftwards. It carries the influence of the Hellenistic ruler portraits.
This treasure-trove was unfortunately dispersed, its pieces were sold by different German and Austrian auctions: the Hungarian National Museum with the sponsorship of the Ministry of the National Cultural Heritage bought a coin from this finding at an auction of the Viennese Dorotheum.
This tetradrachma can be seen in the new temporary exhibition, the Eternal Renewal – New Acquistions of the Hungarian National Museum in the exhibition hall on the first floor open from 19 January till 30 May.