Denarius

Throughout the 2nd century BC and during the first half of the 1st century BC, the Iberian peoples minted silver and bronze coinage. In the northeast of 'Citerior' the presence of almost twenty mints is attested to, which minted in the name of cities or tribes. Of these mints only three produced silver: 'Iltirta' (Lleida), 'Kese' (Tarragona) and 'Ausesken' (the Ausetans). The weight of the units of these issues was identical to that of the Roman denarius, which has led to them being known by this name. On the obverse there was engraved a head of a male deity, modelled on a style of Greek tradition, without any trace of typically Iberian art. On the reverse we see a horseman riding and holding a palm leaf, similar to the issues of Hieron II of Syracuse, plus the name of the issuing tribe, 'Ausesken', engraved in Iberian lettering.