Celtic Bronze Ring Money

The Celts, c. 200 BC – 300 AD, France

A charming and substantial ancient bronze ring money, beautifully patinated with age. The Celts were a network of tribes that emerged in Central Europe during the Late Bronze and Iron Ages (c. 700 BC–400 AD), unified by shared language, beliefs, and artistic traditions. Over the centuries, their influence extended from the British Isles and northern Spain to the Black Sea and Anatolia, where many were later absorbed into the Roman Empire as Britons, Gauls, Boii, Galatians, and Celtiberians.

Renowned for their artistry, the Celts produced an array of exquisite metalwork—from gold torcs and fibulae to bronze shields and ritual vessels—expressing a distinctive aesthetic of flowing, abstract forms. Before the adoption of struck coinage, ring money such as this example was used throughout Celtic territories, including the Danube region, France, England, and Ireland.

The precise function of these rings remains debated: while some may have served as garment or harness fittings, their standardized sizes and occurrence in hoards strongly suggest a role as proto-currency—an early, elegant precursor to coinage itself.

Excellent condition. Intact. Surface wear and abrasions commensurate with age and use. A fine green patina envelops in layers of mottled grayish hues. Size approx. 3,5cm x 0,6cm.

Provenance: Dutch private collection