A gold coin minted by a little-known ruler of ancient Britain – an Iron Age man who said he was “mighty” like a god – was found by a metal detector and sold at auction in England. The rare coin was discovered in Hampshire in March 2023 and sold at auction for £20,400 on 28 September ($24,720), auction house Spink made a series of statements.

The statement stated that the inscription on the coin bears the Latin name “Esunertos”, which can be translated as “mighty like the god Esos” (also written as Esus). The name was Gaelic and was a widely spoken language in the region at the time, archaeologist John Sills of the University of Oxford’s Institute of Archaeology, who examined the coin before it was auctioned, told Live Science via email.

The history of the coin dates back to 50 BC. and 30 BC, for example, some time after Julius Caesar invaded Britain twice around 55 BC. to. supposedly until before 54 e., says the statement. Caesar’s invasions succeeded in establishing permanent Roman control over Britain. However, after another Roman invasion by Emperor Claudius in AD 43, the Roman Empire managed to gain long-term control over part of the island.

According to Sills, this coin is one of three recorded coins bearing the name Espartos. Sills noted that all three were located in the same area and that it was possible that the area controlled by Esunertos included part of what is now West Hampshire.

The political situation in Britain may have changed after Caesar’s invasion, according to Iain Lanes, curator of collections and interiors at English Heritage, the charity that manages Britain’s historic places. Rome conquered Gaul by 50 BC. e.. and the threat of a new attempt to invade Britain arose.

“Rome was meddling in British affairs, and the British suddenly faced a range of new opportunities and threats from the changing political landscape across the Channel,” Lanes, who was not involved in the analysis of the coin, told Live Science. email.

“I think new political leaders are emerging in the rapidly changing political environment; Sometimes they thrive, sometimes they disappear as quickly as they appear,” Lanes said. “If a man had enough power and wealth to expand his influence, the minting and minting of coins was one of the mechanisms by which he could further expand his influence.”

Lanes said Esunertos may have been one of these leaders and therefore minted his own coins, but we may never know whether he actually called himself king.

“His position was likely based on contacts, origin, land and/or control of resources,” Lanes said. “The rest is pure speculation… Was he a popular, charismatic, elected leader? Was his power based on fear or cruelty? We will almost never know the answers to these questions! Source