This example was stated as being found in Co. Armagh, Northern Ireland circa 1950 and sold by the well known English dealer Chris Denton to an Irish collector who subsequently auctioned it through Whytes in Dublin. Heavy Gold sheet over copper with folded over ends. Before the introduction of struck (hammered) coinage the Celts living in Ireland, Britain, France, and in the Danube area used rings, arrowheads and bells as currency. The gold plated rings are extremely rare and were obviously much prized. These are generally found in hoards in Ireland, Wales and France. Silver and, especially, bronze pieces are more commonly found. The great variations in size and weight indicate that, unlike Roman and Greek coinage, there was no fixed series of weights and measures applied to this currency, so every time a barter was arranged the ring money has to be assayed.

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Irish Gold "Ring-Money" circa 1250 BC.

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