COIN AS A PHENOMENON OF CELTIC ART

Celtic medal art originated in the La Tène period in the 4th century BC and developed under the influence of ancient Greek and Roman designs. The Celtic coin production had become widespread throughout Europe by the 2nd century BC. Celtic medal art did not survive the subjugation of the Romans in the 1st century AD. It was rediscovered only in the 18th century and continued to be studied. Due to the increasing archaeological finds and the interdisciplinary nature of modern research methods, Celtic art is attracting growing interest from the academic community, as well as influencing contemporary art and design. In the course of the research, a comprehensive method of modern art studies has been applied (including historical, typological, stylistic and iconographic), as well as the methods of comparative analysis, symbolic analysis, socio-cultural anthropology and author's analytical methods. In the course of the work, the dominant coin types of Celts have been identified in the main territorial areas - in Western, Central and Eastern Europe. The lines of transformation of coin images have been revealed as well as the main types of images on Celtic coins have been described according to their technical, technological, typological, iconographic and stylistic features, functionality and symbolism. The extensive coin material of the Celts makes it possible to reveal the integrity, brightness and expressiveness of Celtic medal art, its typology, image system, dynamics and means of artistic expression.