Ancient Coins and Antiquities

Romano-British, 1st century AD, a bronze Boar figurine, 5.2 cms x 3.7 cms, solid cast moulding, the Boar is standing on four upright legs, with a ridged back, while the body is decorated with fine diagonal grooves indicating the coarse hair. The head has prominent ears and narrow recessed eyes, projecting curved tusks and a flat D-shaped snout with two indented nostrils. the open mouth is a straight slit. The tail at the rear is decorated with grooves, curled and hangs down. Intact, about extremely fine and in excellent condition with a smooth olive green patina; a charming and rare item £1,000-£1,200

Found at Beltinge in Kent. The Boar was a symbol for both the Celts and the Romans. The XX Valeria Roman legion took part in the invasion of Britain in 43 AD and were initially based at Colchester. The legionary emblem was a charging running Boar. The Druids regarded the Boar as sacred and the animal was a symbol of strength and fertility appearing on a number of Iron Age coins.