| Each coin will tell a story whether it is of greed, | | | | Was the original owner perhaps one of the powerful |
| hatred, lust, or love, but only if the collector is willing | | | | leaders of that time, who used these coins to buy |
| to spend the time it takes to research the history of | | | | swords, shields, spears, horses, and chariots for their |
| their coins. Those collectors who are fortunate | | | | soldiers to fight off the Romans? Did the owner hide |
| enough to own any variety of ancient coin are able | | | | them because of the invasion coming from the |
| to take a trip into history about a world long | | | | Romans? Perhaps this leader was involved during |
| forgotten, except with these wonderful coins. | | | | other conflicts in Britain, such as the Atrebates, who |
| One type of ancient coin that was supposedly lost or | | | | happened to own the territory at that time where |
| buried was the coins from Chessington, which were | | | | the coins where found. The various tribes of Britain |
| made near Gaul, which we know today as northern | | | | were all known for their fighting with one another |
| France or possibly Belgium. These coins are over | | | | and strong warriors and weapons would have been |
| 2000 years old and date from 150 BC to 50 BC, | | | | extremely important to them. |
| which was known in Britain as the Iron Age. During | | | | The question that will probably remain unanswered is |
| the Iron Age this area was filled will small settlements | | | | were these coins buried deliberately or were they |
| and farms. These coins are made of seventy percent | | | | just lost. The owner may have place them in |
| gold and are in a variety of different sizes. The | | | | Chessington for safe keeping and not told anyone, |
| obverse shows the head of Apollo, who was | | | | but then had died in battle. Apparently the owner hid |
| considered a god in some societies, while the reverse | | | | these coins and never had a chance to get back to |
| shows a horse and wheel, which sort of resembles a | | | | them to use them and the reason for that will never |
| chariot. | | | | be known, but we can speculate. Speculate over |
| Apparently, these forgotten, lost, or buried coins | | | | whether or not the owner was captured during |
| where found in Chessington and originally belonged to | | | | battle along with his family and turned into slaves. |
| some sort of trader. It is assumed that the trader | | | | When these fabulous coins were found they were |
| acquired these coins from trades made with or in | | | | only four inches below the surface, which could have |
| Gaul, because at that time there was heavy trade | | | | been caused by centuries of plowing or maybe |
| between Britain and Gaul. These mysterious coins | | | | somewhere within the earth a natural disturbance has |
| must have passed through the hands and pockets of | | | | brought them near the surface. What ever it was |
| many before their final destination in Chessington. | | | | the discovery of these coins was amazing and the |
| It makes you wonder where all these coins actually | | | | stories that could have happened surrounding them is |
| traveled and who held them in their hands. Were | | | | even more incredible. |
| they given as a gift from noblemen of Europe or | | | | No matter what a coins shows on the surface, the |
| maybe a Roman owned them at one time. The | | | | historical story behind the coin itself is as exciting as |
| original owner may have been a British soldier who | | | | discovering a new coin for your collection. With a little |
| fought in Gaul against the Romans while under the | | | | research and little bit of imagination you could have a |
| governance of Julius Caesar. British soldiers were paid | | | | history book full of coins and stories to share with |
| to fight on the side of Gaul, and perhaps they were | | | | future generations. |
| paid with gold coins such as these. | | | | |