A 2,200-year-old gold coin found near Gundorf, northwest of Leipzig, has been identified as the oldest coin ever discovered in Saxony. Discovered in July by certified metal detectorist Daniel Fest, it provides new information about early trade connections between the inhabitants of Saxony and the Celtic societies to the south.

Obverse of the 2,200-year-old Celtic gold quarter stater featuring a stylized animal head, likely a stag. Credit: Saxony State Office for Archaeology

Weighing a mere two grams and roughly half the size of a modern penny, the coin is almost pure gold (about 99%). It features a stylized animal head, likely that of a stag, with eyes flanking a long nose and a pronounced bump on the forehead. The reverse depicts an open neck ring, or torc, with thickened ends, surrounding a five-pointed rounded star and a small sphere. It is classified as a Celtic quarter stater, dated to the 3rd century BCE, and was likely minted in northern Bohemia, one of the main Celtic centers at that time.

In Celtic culture, torcs were more than ornaments; they symbolized nobility, divine power, and protection. Their presence on coins indicates that such objects served not only an economic but also a social and ritual purpose.

Dr. Regina Smolnik, the State Archaeologist from the Saxon State Office for Archaeology (LfA), confirmed the discovery and added that this is a significant find. Even though Saxony lay beyond the main Celtic settlement zones, this find offers clear evidence of contact and exchange between locals and the Celts. The coin is in perfect, nearly mint condition and thus most likely never circulated as currency, but rather functioned as a status symbol or store of wealth for a member of the upper class who was engaged in long-distance trade.

The reverse shows Celtic motifs — a torc, star, and sphere. Credit: Saxony State Office for Archaeology

Until now, only eleven Celtic coins have been documented in Saxony; one of the earliest, from the 19th century, has since been lost. Nine more specimens have come to light as a result of intensive surveys in recent years, but only one further specimen in gold, which was undecorated, has been documented. The discovery at Gundorf, with its detailed imagery and excellent state of preservation, is therefore a unique piece among them.

It is also called the “rainbow cup” due to its gently curved, bowl-like shape. The name comes from ancient folklore saying that gold treasures could be found where a rainbow touched the ground. Since such coins were often found after rainstorms, farmers once believed they had fallen from the sky.

The State Office for Archaeology of Saxony officially presented the find to the press, an event attended by Barbara Klepsch, Saxony’s State Minister for Culture and Tourism. She praised the responsible behavior of the finder and emphasized the cooperation between volunteers and archaeologists as indispensable for protecting and studying cultural heritage.

Until now, the oldest known coin from Saxony had been a silver Büschelquinar discovered near Zauschwitz in 2007, dated to the early 1st century BCE. The Gundorf gold coin is more than a hundred years older than this find, pushing the beginning of Saxony’s coinage history further back in time.

Gold quarter staters like this one were produced only briefly before being replaced by larger 1/3 staters, reflecting changes in Celtic trade, especially with regions rich in amber. The Gundorf specimen is one of the most valuable Celtic coins ever found in the region due to its artistic design and near-perfect preservation.

More information: Saxony State Office for Archaeology