Potin Unit Rounded Bull / Holman D6

Allen Type: J5.

Van Arsdell ‘Rounded Bull’. Van Arsdell Classification: Cantian C, Innovative Period and Cantian D, Optimization Period. His corresponding varieties are:
VA 119 - 01 (Thin Striations Type, Holman D6/1-2): Head left. Bull left. Thin, parallel striations on one side of the coin. No blobs interrupt the striations. The moulds were produced by scraping blocks of clay flat with a knife or other similar object.
VA 125 - 03 (Holman D6/1-2): Apollo left with pellet in eye circle and bull made up of curved lines charging left.

David Holman proposes a detailed classification in A New Classification System for the Flat Linear Potin Coinage. This type corresponds with his Group D, which derive from Holman Group C.

Holman characterises Group D (Allen F5-7, GC1-2, J1 and J5) as having large flans and striations like Group C but similarities in the obverse to Group E. Crude designs and striations are common. There is often a pellet in the eye ring. The bull is curvilinear with either one or two crescents above, the tail sometimes leading straight into what looks like a crescent but is taken to be part of the tail. Given the variability of the series, Holman suggests a degree of flexibility, where the features given are not taken to be exact. There are seven subgroups in Group D, of which this is the sixth:

Subgroup D6 (Allen J5) has an open head, almost always with a pellet in the eye ring, and a curved bull. Striations occur. The coins are smaller, usually 15.5-16.5 mm and 1.3-2.2g, while reverse orientation can be 3h or 9h.



Next in the chronological sequence is Holman D7. The previous type is Holman D5. The previous group is Holman C and the next is Holman E.

The illustrated coin is in the Portable Antiquities Scheme database (CC BY 2.0).