Celts in central Gaul - The Aedui. Litavicos. Mid-first century B.C. Silver quinarius (1.84 g. 14 mm.) Aeduan Warrior series.

Draped bust right, quiver behind, scepter before /
(LIT. A), horseman galloping right, holding boar standard.

DT 5072. CCCBM II 487, S387 = SNG Lewis 22. Scheers, Danicourt, 119. Hard deposits and oxidations specially near the edge. Good fine / fine with silvering cover still visible in many areas. Very scarce!!!
Although historically allies of the Romans, the Aedui were not uniformly supportive of Caesar in his effort to quell the Vercingetorix-led Gallic insurgency. One young Aeduan nobleman, Litavicos, so espoused the cause of Gallic freedom that he resorted to deception to turn the loyalty of 10,000 troops under his command away from Caesar and toward Vercingetorix. Litavicos broadcast false stories of a Roman massacre of an Aeduan cavalry force as well as the execution of Aeduan leaders and, so, triggered an anti-Roman rebellion throughout Aeduan territory. Rumors of Roman atrocities persisted even after the appearance of the nobles said to have been killed, and large contingents of Aeduan forces went over to Vercingetorix. The prototype of the obverse of this coin is either the denarius of M. Plaetorius M.f. Cestianus or the drachm of Massalia featuring the bust of Artemis.