Celsa was an important pre-Roman and Roman city located near the modern town of Velilla de Ebro. It was originally an Iberian settlement, called Kelse, of the Ilergetes tribe.
From the mid-second to the first half of the first century BC, Kelse coined its own currency with representations of winged victories, Hercules and Venus and this is the main documentation of the city.
Marcus Emilius Lepidus, governor of Hispania Citerior, founded a colony here in 44 BC with discharged veterans of the legions, who each received a plot of land to cultivate and the grant of Roman citizenship. It was known as Colonia Celsa Lepida, the highest rank of Roman city and one of the only two colonies in Aragon with Caesaraugusta. It experienced a period of great splendour, but it was brief and from the time of Nero it began to wane.
From the mid-second to the first half of the first century BC, Kelse coined its own currency with representations of winged victories, Hercules and Venus and this is the main documentation of the city.
Marcus Emilius Lepidus, governor of Hispania Citerior, founded a colony here in 44 BC with discharged veterans of the legions, who each received a plot of land to cultivate and the grant of Roman citizenship. It was known as Colonia Celsa Lepida, the highest rank of Roman city and one of the only two colonies in Aragon with Caesaraugusta. It experienced a period of great splendour, but it was brief and from the time of Nero it began to wane.
Modern location: Velilla de Ebro, Spain
(1)
Augustus
Obverse: laureate head right; AVGVSTVS·_DIVI·F·
Reverse: bull right; ·C·V·I·CEL· / II·VIR / L·BAGGIO / (MN)·FESTO
Diameter:
26.5 mm
Die Orientation: -
Weight: 11.1 g
Die Orientation: -
Weight: 11.1 g
L. Baggius and Mn. Flavius Festus
Villaronga-Benages 3164e, RPC I 273, SNG Cop 540
(2)
Augustus
.jpg)
Obverse: AVGVSTVS DIVI F, Head of Augustus facing right, wearing laurel wreath
Reverse: C V I CEL L BAGGIO MN FESTO II VIR, Bull standing facing right
Diameter:
30 mm
Die Orientation: 12 H
Weight: 9.83 g
Die Orientation: 12 H
Weight: 9.83 g
L. Baggius and Mn. Flavius Festus as duoviri
RPC notes a dating of 17 BC or later given the use of DIVI F in the name
RPC notes a dating of 17 BC or later given the use of DIVI F in the name
RPC I 273