Der Goldmünzhort und die spätlatènezeitlichen Münzen aus Riegel am Kaiserstuhl

The investigated hoard is one clue amongst many that a widely branched trading network with a dense infrastructure existed on the Upper River Rhine in the Late Latène Period, which had developed within a few decades and collapsed even more rapidly. 46 out of 162 archaeological sites on the Upper Rhine are settlements, of which Riegel is considered a central place due to its coin and pottery production, fortification, and two long distance paths. The hoard was discovered underneath a Roman road in 2001 and comprised 27 imitations of Philippou staters made of electrum [37 % Au, 44 % Ag, 18 % Cu] eight of which lay in a ceramic pot while the others were scattered. The time of deposition at the end of Lt D1 is unusual. Despite its derivation from the earliest Celtic gold coins the hoard already reflects a time with new denominations and the use of gold coins as a standard of value and means of payment while, initially, the use as prestige object, sacrificial offering, grave good, dowry or military pay prevailed. The catalogue presents all 71 eastern Middle-Gaulish coins from the 2000-2001 excavation campaigns at Riegel plus one blank, one off-cast, and a wheel-shaped pendant.