Silver Unit Norfolk God Moustache / Boudica

Evans: XVI.8 (1864, p. 397, pl. XVI).

Allen Type: Normal Face Horse B, Normal Face Horse C. (Talbot suggests the distinction is not meaningful).

Van Arsdell Classification: Icenian O, Boudicca and the Final Coins of the Iceni. Van Arsdell lists two variants:
VA 792 - 01 (Queen Boudicca): Reverse lozenge-shaped box has no pellet.
VA 794 - 01 (Queen Boudicca): Reverse lozenge-shaped box has pellet inside.
Van Arsdell also says that VA 792 has curving lines of hair behind the neck, while VA 794 has these replaced by a branch emblem. However, it appears there is no difference - what looks like hair is the branch emblem.

Both Van Arsdell and John Talbot suggest Norfolk God units are the last coins of the Iceni. Van Arsdell goes on to suggest they were struck by Boudica in 61. This is disputed as it is 14 years past the last British Celtic coin struck.

Chris Rudd (ABC) ‘Norfolk God Moustache’.

Talbot Late Face Horse. Struck at Mint B, which produced silver and is characterised by a horse with a solid head. It started last of the three mints, but at times was the most productive. Production was across several sites focused around Breckland. The silver alloy contains more tin than the other mints. It produced two issues, the Early Pattern Horse A and Late Face Horse. Late Face Horse lacks an inscription but is late and was produced over a long period. It used more dies than any other Icenian issue and more examples survive than anything except Ecen. To the left of the kite is a small device that might be a mintmark.

Talbot Chronology: Gallo-Belgic E/Ingoldisthorpe - Early Local Period I (55BC-35BC) - Early Local Period II (35BC-15BC) - Denominational Period I (15BC-5: Snettisham - Plouviez - Irstead - Early Boar Horse) - Denominational Period II (5-25) - Denominational Period III (25-45).

Cottam and Rudd list six types:
COI 94a - Norfolk God Moustache Lipline (200+ known): Short vertical line between upper lip and nose.
COI 94b (ABC 1567) - Norfolk God Moustache No Lipline (100+ known): No line between pellet of upper pin lip and pellet of nose and moustache; upright pellet triad (one at top) below head.
COI 94c - Norfolk God Moustache Inverted Triad (3 known): No line between pellet of upper pin lip and pellet of nose and moustache; inverted pellet triad (two at top) below head.
COI 94d - Norfolk God Moustache No Triad (3 known): Short vertical line between upper lip and nose; no triad below head.
COI 94e - Norfolk God Moustache Multi Grain (57 known): No line between pellet of upper pin lip and pellet of nose and moustache; upright pellet triad (one at top) below head; corn ear has five or six grains each side instead of four.
COI 94f - Norfolk God Moustache Thick Cable (32 known): No line between pellet of upper pin lip and pellet of nose and moustache; upright pellet triad (one at top) below head; corn ear has three grains each side instead of four. Horse's mane and pelta have thick cabling; two dots below horse (see Chris Rudd List 185, 14 October 2022, lot 17).

Cottam and Rudd Chronology: Gallic War Unity (55-50BC) - Post-War Austerity (50-35BC) - Peaceful Prosperity (35BC-20) - Client-State Conformity (20-47) - Claudian Regality (43-47).