Vascaone Coins From Iberia 225-100 BCE

Pre-Roman Iberian Tribes

Map from http://gib4kids.atspace.com/history/ancient/ancient_iberians_turdetani.html

Vascones Are the Basques of Today

Most of these coins came from the small Vascones tribe region.

Map from: https://kilometerone.travel/blog/htjcadxsdy50v6doxbrlkcduvy3nvg

Silver Denarius, 18 mm dia., 4.07 grams. Notive the eyes are closed.

Photo of original coin from L5 auction at: https://l5.com/Event/LotDetails/173216/Bolskan-Circa-150100-BC-Denarius?page=0&sortOption=null

Denarius (Silver, 18 mm dia., 3.70 grams

A slightly different version of the same coin from a different die and with a lighter weight showing the eyes open. The text remains the same however.

Photo of original coin from L5 auction at: https://l5.com/Event/LotDetails/173284/Bolskan-Circa-150100-BC-Denarius

Vascone Bolskan City Silver Denarius 150-100 BCE

(June 8, 2025) The ancient city traditionally called Bolskan was an Iberian city located in the territory of the Vascones in north-eastern Spain about 65 km north of the Ebro River. It was on the site that is now occupied by the city of Huesca, in the Iberian Peninsula.

The Vescetani were conquered by Roman Praetor Gaius Terentius Varro in 179 BC, which saw the refoundation of the once-Iberian city, with the new name of Osca. This coin was minted after the city was conquered but it still uses the local Druid Akkadian language.

Bolskan is famous for its ancient mint, and its abundant coins include an issue that includes an unidentified bearded male facing right on the obverse and a horseman carrying a spear and the name of the city in an Iberian inscription on the reverse. The coins of Bolskan changed to having Latin inscriptions in 37 BC, when the city was refounded as Osca.

Translation of Text in Akkadian (Med Text 96)

(read left to right. Capital letters on object. Small letters are inferred Inner vowels. Verbs in italic bold. Dual use letters are E/H, I/Y, U/W, and '/A in which vowel appears at beginning of words)
Chart Used: Aegean Lineage, Letter style is Iberian

Šu Nu
Šu Gu Mu ANu

In English

The same revealer
The same energizing the fertility-fluids from considerations (focused emotions of emotion magic)

This text is promoting the use of emotion magic which is sourced by the dark new moon and eye-pupil god Su.

Consequently, the head represents the god Su. He is wearing a pearl necklace which represents the moon powers in general. Notice Su is now personified whereas before this power was represented by an eye symbol. Significantly, the eyes on this deity seem to be closed indicating his power was being inhibited.

Reference

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bolskan

Denarius. Silver, 20 mm dia., 4.02 grams.

Numismatists identify this coin as being earlier than the Boscan coin and this is supported by the letter styles. The Š letter is in the earlier style found on the Iberian runestones.

Photo of original coin from L5 auction at: https://l5.com/Event/LotDetails/178445/SPAIN-Iltirta-Ilerda-Circa-200150-BC-AR-Denarius

Iberian Iltirta (Ilerda) Silver Denarius 150-100 BCE

(June 8, 2025) This similar coin was minted outside the Vescetani tribal area. It was minted in Iberian city of Iltirta (later Roman Ilerda, modern-day Lleida). This near uniformity shows the success of Romans starting to impose uniformity.

The beardless head represents the hermaphrodite deity Thu who is the connective motion power diety relaying the motion powers originating with Su to the earth. Thu is also wearing a pearl necklace representing the moon powers (and Su and Selene) in general. Thu is surrounded by dolphins which also represent the motion powers. These motion powers are the magical powers as compared to the life powers.

The horseman on the coin's other side is carrying a stalk of grain. A galloping horse indicates some sort of energizing or motivating power is needed to bring the prosperity represented by that grain stalk.

Translation of Text in Akkadian (Med Text 97)

Nu Gu EṬu. ŠaMu RaGu NaDu IGu

In English

Revelations can energize the darkness (fate powers of the astrological night sky). Obligations can falsely-influence the shedding of fate.

Here the revelations are the revelations of divination which once revealed obligate the divine powers to do something. This statement is suggesting that divination magic is being counter productive by promoting doom and gloom.

Silver denarius, 17 mm dia., 4.21 grams.

This simple, almost sketched relief is a simpler version of the reliefs on the above 3 coins indicating it is earlier and pre-Roman. This is supported by the texts style which is much more eclectic.

Early Vascone Tribe Silver Denarius 225-180 BCE

(June 11, 2025) This coin was minted in the territory of the Vescetani (an Iberian tribe) in north-eastern Spain. This denarius belongs to the dynamic century in which the Vescetani tribe mints absorbed Roman weight standards yet retained their Druid culture.

Such silver issues financed their defence during the Celtiberian and Sertorian wars, circulating alongside Roman denarii yet maintaining a bullion value trusted by local militias and mercenaries. Hoards found from Navarre to the upper Ebro show these coins travelling the old trans-Pyrenean trade routes that would later become the pilgrim road to Santiago. Today they stand as tangible witnesses to a people who negotiated cultural exchange and military pressure while preserving their own identity on the very frontier of the Roman world.

Translation of Text in Akkadian (Med Text )

Yu Ma'u Nu Pu Zu
Bu Nu Su Šu

In English

Are not we pushing the revelations which open emanations?
Nourish the revelations of Su similarly

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