7 | Celtiberian coins

Automatically generated translation

BURSAU (Borja, Zaragoza). As. (Ae. 13.70g / 27mm). 120-80 BC Anv: Bearded head to the right, behind the Iberian letter Bu, in front of the dolphin. Rev: Rider with spear to the right, below Iberian legend: BuRSAU. (FAB- 300). VF. Retouched. Limited.

Along with Turiasu and Arekorata it was one of the main cities of the Lusones, one of the four into which Celtiberia was divided according to Strabo, and according to Pliny it was the stipendiary city of Caesaraugusta. In any case we are talking about a city of Celtiberian origin that coined a scarce numerary and with little development in time (centered, practically in its entirety, between the middle and end of the second century BC) always in copper and with units of spear horsemen, and rooms. The main type of the obverse, both of the units and the halves, corresponds to a male head, bearded or beardless, decorated with torcs as a symbol of status or dotted necklaces. The obversees are completed with a dolphin in front of the head and the epigraphic sign Bu behind, the initial of the toponym of the mint. On the back of the units is the spear rider with a Montefortino helmet. They are generally coins little varied in terms of typology and iconography but of extraordinary historical and numismatic value.