Celtic Coinage of Britain

third edition

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V1979-01

 

History

Later Coinages    (Info)

 

Coinage in the North Thames Region 10-61 A.D.

 

Trinovantes/Catuvellauni

 

The coinage of Cunobeline dominated the territory of the Trinovantes/Catuvellauni from 10 to 43 A.D. During the "Interregnum", the standard weight of the stater was reduced to 5.40 grammes, down from the 5.60 grammes of Tasciovanus' reign. Apparently, Cunobeline tried to restore the weight to the heavier standard of 5.60 upon his accession to the throne, but was not successful. By 20 A.D., the weight of his staters was reduced to 5.40 grammes. The other tribes had maintained the lower standard throughout the period and this possibly thwarted Cunobeline's attempt at restoration.

Cunobeline's coins were as varied in type as those of Tasciovanus, and carried many designs inspired by Roman images. He styled himself the son of Tasciovanus on some of these, perhaps to legitimatize his claim to the throne. Whether he and Epaticcus were actually brothers is not confirmed in the historical record. The Trinovantian/Catuvellaunian coinage came to an end with the Roman invasion in 43 A.D. (75).

 

Iceni

 

The Iceni struck silver coins throughout the first half of the First Century A.D. and continued production until the Boudiccan Revolt of 61 A.D. The designs on the Icenian coinage showed a double-crescent emblem on the obverse and a horse with inscription on the reverse. This basic type continued with minor changes to the horse and a series of inscriptions: ANTED, ECEN, SAENV and AESV.

After the Claudian invasion, the Iceni became independent allies of Rome, eventually under the leadership of Prasutagus. Originally it was believed he struck the silver coins with a Romanized bust and the inscription SVB ESVPRASTO on the obverse and a horse with the legend ESICO FECIT on the reverse (76). This is less certain today, though still a possibility.

Queen Boudicca assumed leadership of the tribe after Prasutagus' death, issuing an uninscribed silver unit with a Celticized head on the obverse. These were struck in great quantities to finance the revolt against Rome (77).

 

Next Section – Later Coinages – South Thames Region

 

 

 

 

 

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V1979-01

1979 - 01    Cunobeline

10-20 A.D.      Scarce

Bronze Unit    2.9 gms.    16 mm

 

Earliest Record: Camden, 1789 (Gough edition)

 

OBV: Inscription on tablet

Identifying points:

  1. Pegasus looks left
  2. right wing seen in front of breast
  3. CAMV below

 

REV: Sphinx left

Identifying points:

  1. CV NO beside victory
  2. victory holds wreath

 

Classification: Trinovantian U

 

Notes:

  • Celtic Coin Index records now indicate commoner than previously thought
  • Some in museums
  • Victory may comemmorate Cunobeline's victory elevation, or a victory over Eppillus in Kent

 

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V1910-02

1910 - 02    Cunobeline Biga Type

10-20 A.D.      Extremely Rare

Gold Stater    5.6 gms.    17 mm

 

Earliest Record: Allen, 1944

 

OBV: Inscribed wreath and tablet

Identifying points:

  1. CAMUL in tablet

 

REV: Two Celticized horses

Identifying points:

  1. large leaf above horses
  2. four-spoked wheel with pellets between spokes
  3. CVNOBELIN below horses
  4. no pellet below tail and no pellet below leaf

 

CLASSIFICATION: Trinovantian T

 

NOTES:

  • Most in museums
  • Standard weight given

 

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Allen 1975

de Jersey 2001b, 2005e

 

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V770-01

770 - 01    SAENV

35-43 A.D.      Scarce

Silver Unit    1.25 gms.    13-14 mm

 

Earliest Record: Evans, 1864

 

OBV: Double crescent emblem

Identifying points:

  1. two outline crescents back to back
  2. two pellets between crescents
  3. crescents between two parallel lines
  4. lines and rows of pellets extend perpendicularly from the two lines

 

REV: Celticized horse right

Identifying points:

  1. horse has linear head
  2. daisy above horse
  3. six pellets on horse's shoulder
  4. SAENV under horse

 

CLASSIFICATION: Icenian L

 

NOTES:

  • Many in museums
  • Celtic Coin Index records now confirm type much commoner than originally thought
  • Stonea Hoard, 1982, all now in museums, added to tally
  • John Talbot assigns this type to Mint Group C

 

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Mack 1964

Allen 1976

Mossop 1979

Van Arsdell 1989a

 

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Van Arsdell 1987b

 

(See Van Arsdell 1987b)

 

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V780-01

780 - 01     SUB ESVPRASTO ESICO FECIT

35-43 A.D.    Extremely Rare

Silver Fraction    0.95 gms.    13 mm

 

Earliest Record: Mack, 1964

 

OBV: Romanized head left

Identifying points:

  1. ring and pellet motif in front of head
  2. SVB ESVPRASTO inscription around head

 

REV: Celticized horse right

Identifying points:

  1. ring and pellet motif above horse
  2. ESICO FECIT inscription around horse

 

CLASSIFICATION: Icenian M

 

NOTES:

  • Most extant examples are broken and chipped, possibly explaining the light weight reported
  • May actually be a Silver Unit
  • John Talbot cautions that this may be a local issue
  • Daphne Nash-Briggs suggests SVB ESVPRASTO is a title, not a personal name, and that ESICO is a personal name, not part of a Latin inscription. These suggestions have not gained traction with the research community.
  • J. H. C. Williams has provided the best reading of the obverse legend as SVB ESVPRASTO. He suggests that the name "Prasutagus", found only in Tacitus (Annals 14.31), may not be an accurate record of Boudicca's husband's name – that Esuprasto may have been the correct rendering.

 

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V792-01

792 - 01     Queen Boudicca

43-61 A.D.      Common

Silver Unit    ca. 0.9-1.1 gms.    13 mm

 

Earliest Record: Stukeley, 1776

 

OBV: Celticized head right

Identifying points:

  1. new style head
  2. slit for eye
  3. no ear
  4. hair comprised of straight and curving lines
  5. three pellets below head
  6. two trefoils in front of face

 

REV: Celticized horse right

Identifying points:

  1. horse has 'necklace' and 'belt' lines, which are continuations of the legs
  2. lozenge-shaped box below horse
  3. large, elaborate wheel-like object above horse

 

CLASSIFICATION: Icenian O

 

NOTES:

  • Many in museums

 

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This section discusses the last coinages struck in the North Thames Region.

 

Trinovantes/Catuvellauni

  • Cunobeline

 

Iceni

  • ANTED
  • ECEN
  • SAENV
  • AESV
  • SVB ESVPRASTO
  • Boudicca

 

Copyright R. D. Van Arsdell 2017