Celtic Coinage of Britain

third edition

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V210-01

 

History

Last Uninscribed Coinages    (Info)

 

Coinage in the South Thames Region 54-30 B.C.

 

The two tribes occupying the South Thames Region, the Cantii in the east and the Atrebates/Regni/Belgae to the west, both had sophisticated money economies before the Gallic War.

Though the Cantii had manufactured their own bronzes for fifty years, they traditionally satisfied their need for gold coins by importing them from Gaul. By the war's end, they found themselves cut off from their Continental sources and were forced to strike their own. About 50 B.C., they introduced the Ornamented Type stater. Within five years, these were superseded by the lower-weight Weald Type and its quarter, the Trophy Type. The dynastic coinage began around 35 B.C., and the first inscription, not fully visible on existing coins, appears to contain the letters IVII  (55). By 30 B.C this coinage was replaced by coins in the name of Dubnovellaunus-in-Kent (56).

During this period, the tribe changed the module of the cast bronze coins as well, to make them smaller in diameter, but thicker. The change was evidently necessitated by some production difficulties with the thinner, but large-diameter Optimization Period coins. The resulting Adjustment Period coins were produced in fairly small quantities. Soon, a manufacturing change was again instituted – casting was suspended, and struck bronzes were introduced. The cast bronzes were superseded, around 35 B.C., by the dynastic issues, first uninscribed coins under the ruler whose full name is not known, followed by inscribed issues of Dubnovellaunus-in-Kent (57).

The Atrebates/Regni/Belgae continued to issue the Atrebatic Abstract Type after the war, the quarters of which were struck in a very wide variety of designs. However, the appearance of Commius in Britain forever changed the complexion of British coinage.

By 45 B.C., the Atrebates/Regni/Belgae were striking a variant of the earlier staters, but now carrying a legend on the reverse, below the horse. The name COMMIOS appears on what was to be not only the first inscribed British coin but the first to carry the name of a ruler. A silver coinage was added to the Atrebatic/Regnan/Belgic issues, coins too small to accommodate Commius's name, but identified by a privy mark which, has been attributed to him (58).

 

Next Section – Last Uninscribed Coinages Peripheral Region

 

 

 

 

 

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Atrebatic Abstract type stater

V210 - 01

 

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V142-01

142 - 01    Ornamented Type

50-45 B.C.      Extremely Rare

Gold Stater     15 mm     5.3 gms.

 

Earliest Record: Evans, 1890

 

OBV: Plain

Identifying points:

  1. no evidence of banding at this time

 

REV: Celticized horse left

Identifying points:

  1. rings and lines in abstract pattern below horse
  2. horse's right front foreleg made Up of two lines
  3. pellet-and-ellipse motif with 'wings' above horse

 

CLASSIFICATION: Cantian F

 

NOTES:

  • Weight of 5.3 grammes is probably too low for period, but inadequate number of coins exists to determine correct standard weight

 

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V144-01

144 - 01     Early Weald Type

45-40 B.C.      Extremely Rare

Gold Stater    16 mm    5.6 gms.

 

Earliest Record: Evans, 1864

 

OBV: plain

Identifying points:

  1. no evidence of banding at this time

 

REV: Celticized horse left

Identifying points:

  1. box with cross-hatching below horse done in neat workmanship
  2. pellet below tail
  3. pellet-in-ring motif in front of horse
  4. S-shape with pellets in arms above horse
  5. horse's right foreleg made up of a single line

 

CLASSIFICATION: Cantian G

 

NOTES:

  • Some in museums
  • Typical weight given

 

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V145-01

145 - 01     Early Trophy Type

45-40 B.C.      Very Rare

Gold Quarter Stater    13 mm    1.3-1.6 gms.

 

Earliest Record: Evans, 1980

 

OBV: plain

Identifying points:

  1. no evidence of banding at this time

 

REV: stylized Roman trophy

Identifying points:

  1. trophy still recognizable
  2. two rings with cross-hatching at 5 and 7 o'clock engraved with good workmanship
  3. boxes with cross-hatching at 3 and 9 o'clock engraved with good workmanship

 

CLASSIFICATION: Cantian G

 

NOTES:

  • Reverse design adapted from denarius of Caesar, BMC. 3961
  • Traditionally described as a British type; possibly, but unlikely a Gaulish import
  • Most in museums
  • Typical weight given

 

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V157-01

157 - 01     South Thames Banded Type

35-30 B.C.      Extremely Rare

Partial Inscription "IVII"

Gold Stater    15 mm    5.6 gms.

 

Earliest Record: Allen, 1960

 

OBV: plain, with bands

Identifying points:

  1. Three raised bands extend across field

 

REV: Celticized horse right

Identifying points:

  1. pellet-in-ring motif on horse's shoulder
  2. pellet-in-ring below horse
  3. large ring above horse
  4. horse lacks mane
  5. partial inscription above horse: probable reading – "IVII"

 

CLASSIFICATION: Cantian I

 

NOTES:

  • Plate coin reappeared in March, 1987 Muenz Zentrum auction, weight recorded in catalogue
  • Actual weight of existing coin given

 

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Van Arsdell 1989g

 

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de Jersey 2005d

 

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V133-01

133 - 01     Angular Bull Type

85-50 B.C.      Very Rare

Cast Bronze    ca. 1.5 gms.    17 mm

 

Earliest Record: Allen, 1971

 

OBV: Celticized head of Apollo left

Identifying points:

  1. as 129-1 but head faces left
  2. central pellet

 

REV: Celticized bull charging left

Identifying points:

  1. as 129-1
  2. central pellet

 

CLASSIFICATION: Cantian D

 

Notes:

  • Celtic Coin Index records indicate rarer that initially thought

 

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V135-01

135 - 01    Early Dump Type

50-45 B.C.      Rare

Cast Bronze    ca. 1.5 gms.    14 mm

 

Earliest Record: Allen, 1971

 

OBV: Celticized head of Apollo right

Identifying points:

  1. outline head of Apollo
  2. pronounced pellet in centre of head

 

REV: Celticized bull

Identifying points:

  1. bull made up of straight lines
  2. pronounced pellet in centre of bull
  3. often not possible to determine which way bull faces

 

CLASSIFICATION: Cantian E

 

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Van Arsdell 1989g

de Jersey 2005d

 

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V210-01

210 - 01     Atrebatic Abstract Type

55-45 B.C.      Rare

Gold Stater    5.9 gms.    18 mm

 

Earliest Record: Petavius, 1610

 

OBV: Abstracted head of Apollo right

Identifying points:

  1. wreath with leaves downwards, curved around face
  2. spike-with-crescent has pellet terminal and one additional pellet

 

REV: Disjointed horse right

Identifying points:

  1. horse has triple tail with pellet terminals
  2. eight-spoked wheel under horse
  3. horse's ear made of two curves forming oval
  4. curved, zig zag exergual line

 

CLASSIFICATION: Atrebatic B

 

NOTES:

  • Standard weight given

 

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Van Arsdell 1986h, 19887a

 

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This section discusses the final uninscribed coinages in the South Thames Region.

 

  • Cantii: Ornamental and Weald type gold coins, and Optimization and Adjustment Period cast bronzes
  • Atrebates/Regni/Belgae: Atrebatic Abstract type stater

 

Copyright R. D. Van Arsdell 2017