Celtic Coinage of Britain

third edition

Click on coin to see hidden information

 

 

 

V350-01

 

Plate 16

Atrebates, Regni & Belgae    (Info)

Dynastic Coinages    (Info)

 

 

Gold Coinage of Commius    (Info)

V346-01V350-01V352-01V353-01V353-01 another 1V353-01 another 2V353-05

 

 

 

Silver Coinage of Commius

V355-01V355-03V355-05V358-05

 

 

 

First Coinage of Tincomarus    (Info)    (Info)

Gold and Silver Coins

V362-01 now 405-01V363-01V365-01V366-01V369-01 new was 473-01V370-01V370-01V371-01 anotherV372-01

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Atrebates, Regni & Belgae Dynastic Coinages

 

The arrangement of the dynastic coins follows that in Van Arsdell, 1989. For a different arrangement of these coins see Bean, 2000.

 

 

 

 

Coinage of Commius

 

Commius came to Britain after the battle of Alesia to join the British Atrebates. He quickly became their leader because his name soon appears on the Atrebatic staters. These are like the Early Atrebatic Type, but have COMMIOS inscribed below the horse. Two types are known, one has an 'E symbol' that also appears on some rare silver units, and this symbol has been used to identify Commius' silver coinage. An earlier type stater, lacking an inscription has been identified after 1989.

 

Commius' quarter staters have also been identified. These had previously been attributed as 'Gallo-Belgic XC2', but one variety has the same upright 'E' symbol as found on the silver units. A partial inscription, 'CO', appears in front of the horse. The mane of the horse, and the double-stranded tail also link the silver and gold quarters. The quarter staters are almost always found in Britain, in Atrebatic territory, they do not occur on the Continent.

 

A silver unit with a wheel, and a quarter stater with an anemone are identical in style to the 'E' symbol types, and are undoubtedly part of the same coinage. Thus the coinage of Commius is now seen to be made up of gold staters, quarter staters and silver units, all linked by stylistic details and privy marks.

 

 

 

 

Coinage of Tincomarus

 

The next name appearing on the coins is Tincomarus. His rule, lasting about 25 years, ended during the Trinovantian/Catuvellaunian Interregnum. Tincomarus afterwards appears in Rome seeking assistance from Augustus – evidently he had been deposed. The historical Tincomarus, mentioned on the Monumentum Ancyranum (constructed about 7 A.D.) has traditionally been associated with the Atrebatic coins.

 

Tincomarus' coinage is divided into three periods based on the stater types. The corresponding quarter staters and silver coins are assigned according to their inscriptions and on typological grounds. The more Romanized designs on the silver are assigned to the later periods.

 

Originally, this ruler was known as Tincommius, however, a more complete inscription on an Alton Hoard coin has provided a better reading of the name.

 

 

 

 

Tincomarus First Coinage

 

Tincomarus first staters continue the imagery of the uninscribed coins and those of Commius.

 

 

 

 

V346-01

346 - 01    Commius    

45-30 B.C.       Extremely Rare

Gold Stater    5.5 gms.    17 mm

 

Earliest Record: Van Arsdell, 1992

 

OBV: Celticized head of Apollo right

Identifying points:

    1) wreath: leaves downwards

    2) spike made up of lines and large pellets

    3) three lines connect wreath to curl above hook of spike

    4) Hidden "bird face" at 2 o'clock

    5) "ladder" for horse's mane

 

REV: Celticized horse right

Identifying points:

    1) eight-spoked wheel with axle below horse

    2) three-ringed object, similar to Llyn Cerrig Bach gang-chain above horse

    3) seven-armed spiral in fron to horse

 

CLASSIFICATION: Atrebatic C

 

NOTES:

  - Actual weight of existing examplegiven

  - Inscription "Commios", if present, is off the flan on the illustrated example

 

 

 

 

V350-01

350 - 01    Commius

45-30 B.C.      Scarce

Gold Stater    5.45 gms.    17 mm

 

Earliest Record: Evans, 1864

 

OBV: Celticized head of Apollo right

Identifying points:

    1) wreath: leaves downwards

    2) spike made up of lines and large pellets

    3) two lines connect wreath to curl above hook of spike

    4) ring or pellet near hook

    5) Pellet between curls

 

REV: Celticized horse right

Identifying points:

    1) five-spoked wheel with axle below horse

    2) COMMIOS below horse

    3) triple-tail on horse

    4) three-ringed object, similar to Llyn Cerrig Bach gang-chain

    5) vestige of charioteer's arms reduced to a thick line with a curve and pellet at the end

 

CLASSIFICATION: Atrebatic C

 

NOTES:

  - Standard weight estimated, the true standard is probably 0.1 to 0.2 grammes heavier

  - Some in museums

  - The alternate use of the ring or pellet near hook may constitute a privy mark

 

 

 

 

V352-01

352 - 01     Commius

45-30 B.C.    Extremely Rare

Gold Stater    5.45 gms.    17 mm

 

Earliest Record: Van Arsdell, 1986h

 

OBV: Celticized head of Apollo right

Identifying points:

    1) as 350 - 01

 

REV: Celticized horse right

Identifying points:

    1) similar to 350 - 01

    2) six-spoked wheel with axle below horse

    3) 'E' symbol' above horse

 

CLASSIFICATION: Atrebatic C

 

NOTES:

  - Standard weight estimated, the true standard is probably 0.1 to 0.2 grammes heavier

  - Change from five to six-spoked wheel with axle may be a privy mark

 

 

 

 

V353-01

353 - 01    Upright E Type

45-30 B.C.      Extremely Rare

Gold Quarter Stater    1.35 gms.    8 mm

 

Earliest Record: Evans, 1864

 

OBV: Digamma on blank field

 

REV: Celticized horse left

Identifying points:

    1) below horse, figure-of-eight with ring in lower loop

    2) 'E' symbol above horse, with arms of E pointing right

    3) middle arm of E is bent downwards

    4) mane made up of curve with lines

    5) CO in front of horse

    6) double-stranded tail

 

CLASSIFICATION: Atrebatic C

 

NOTES:

  - Standard weight given

  - Celtic Coin Index records indicate rarer than originally thought

  - Continental type, possibly of of Commius exists, see 87 - 01

  - Many in museums

 

 

 

 

V353-01 another 1

353 - 01    Upright E Type

45-30 B.C.      Extremely Rare

Gold Quarter Stater    1.35 gms.    8 mm

 

Earliest Record: Evans, 1864

 

OBV: Digamma on blank field

 

REV: Celticized horse left

Identifying points:

    1) below horse, figure-of-eight with ring in lower loop

    2) 'E' symbol above horse, with arms of E pointing right

    3) middle arm of E is bent downwards

    4) mane made up of curve with lines

    5) CO in front of horse

    6) double-stranded tail

 

CLASSIFICATION: Atrebatic C

 

NOTES:

  - Standard weight given

  - Celtic Coin Index records indicate rarer than originally thought

  - Continental type, possibly of of Commius exists, see 87 - 01

  - Many in museums

 

 

 

V353-01 another 2

353 - 01    Upright E Type

45-30 B.C.      Extremely Rare

Gold Quarter Stater    1.35 gms.    8 mm

 

Earliest Record: Evans, 1864

 

OBV: Digamma on blank field

 

REV: Celticized horse left

Identifying points:

    1) below horse, figure-of-eight with ring in lower loop

    2) 'E' symbol above horse, with arms of E pointing right

    3) middle arm of E is bent downwards

    4) mane made up of curve with lines

    5) CO in front of horse

    6) double-stranded tail

 

CLASSIFICATION: Atrebatic C

 

NOTES:

  - Standard weight given

  - Celtic Coin Index records indicate rarer than originally thought

  - Continental type, possibly of of Commius exists, see 87 - 01

  - Many in museums

 

 

 

V353-05

353 - 05    Anemone Type

45-30 B.C.      Scarce

Gold Quarter Stater    1.35 gms.    9 mm

 

Earliest Record: Van Arsdell, 1989

 

OBV: Digamma on blank field

 

REV: Celticized horse left

Identifying points:

    1) below horse, figure-of-eight with ring in lower loop

    2) anemone above horse

    3) mane made up of curve with lines

    4) double-stranded tail

 

CLASSIFICATION: Atrebatic C

 

NOTES:

  - Standard weight given

  - Continental type, possibly of Commius

  - Modern forgery exisits: see – (353-05-F1)

 

 

 

 

V355-01

355 - 01    Commius Upright E Type

30-45 B.C.    Very Rare

Silver Unit    0.9 gms.    11 mm

 

Earliest Record: Evans, 1864

 

OBV: Celticized head left

Identifying points:

    1) "curved ladder" for hair

    2) eye is crudely-engraved pellet-in-ring motif

    3) scroll in front of face

 

REV: Celticized horse left

Identifying points:

    1) backwards "S" shape below horse

    2) "E symbol" above horse, with arms of E pointing right

    3) middle arm of E is bent downwards

 

CLASSIFICATION: Atrebatic C

 

NOTES:

  - Some in museums

 

 

 

 

V355-03

355 - 03    Commius Lazy E Type

45-30 B.C.      Scarce

Silver Unit    1.0 gm    12 mm

 

Earliest Record: Poste, 1853

 

OBV: Celticized head left

Identifying points:

    1) as 355 - 01

 

REV: Celticized horse left

Identifying points:

    1) as 355 - 01

    2) arms of "E symbol" point downwards

 

CLASSIFICATION: Atrebatic C

 

 

 

 

V355-05

355 - 05     Commius Wheel Type

30-45 B.C.      Very rare

Silver Unit    11 mm

 

Earliest Record: Van Arsdell, 1989

 

OBV: Celticized head left

dentifying points:

    1) "curved ladder" for hair

    2) eye is crudely-engraved pellet-in-ring motif

    3) two pellet-in-ring motifs in front of face

 

REV: Celticized horse left

Identifying points:

    1) backwards "S" shape below horse

    2) eight (?)-spoked wheel above horse

    3) mane made up of curve with lines

    4) double-stranded tail

 

CLASSIFICATION: Atrebatic C

 

NOTES:

  - Some are in museums

 

 

 

 

V358-05

358 - 05    Commius

30-45 B.C.      Very Rare

Silver Minim    0.35 gms.    7.5 mm

 

Earliest Record: Van Arsdell, 1989

 

OBV: Celticized head left

Identifying points:

    1) "curved ladder" for hair

    2) eye is crudely-engraved pellet-in-ring motif

 

REV: Celticized horse left

Identifying points:

    1) backwards "S" shape below horse

    2) pellet-in-ring motif above and below horse

 

CLASSIFICATION: Atrebatic C

 

NOTES:

  - Weight given is that of an existing example

  - Some are in museums

  - The wheel above the horse has been replaced by a pellet-in-ring motif owing to the small size of the flan

 

 

 

 

362 - 01 Deleted

 

Johns Sills reports an example with a better reading of the legend. The stater is now seen to be the same as 405 - 01, and thus 362 - 01 has been deleted from the catalogue.

 

(See 405-01)

 

 

 

 

V363-01

363 - 01     Tincomarus First Coinage

30-25 B.C.      Rare

Gold Stater    5.45 gms.    17 mm

 

Earliest Record: Poste, 1846

 

OBV: Celticized head of Apollo right

Identifying points:

    1) similar to 350 - 01

 

REV: Celticized horse right

Identifying points:

    1) TIN DV around horse

    2) triple tail

    3) six-spoked wheel with axle below horse

 

CLASSIFICATION: Atrebatic D

 

NOTES:

  - Standard weight estimated, the true standard is probably 0.1 to 0.2 grammes heavier

 

 

 

 

V365-01

365 - 01     Tincomarus First Coinage

30-25 B.C.      Very Rare

Gold Quarter Stater    1.2 gms.    10 mm

 

Earliest Record: Evans, 1864

 

OBV: Inscribed tablet

Identifying points:

    1) TIN COM in two lines in tablet

    2) COMM highly stylized underneath

    3) lines of pellets above and below inscriptions

 

REV: Celticized horse left

Identifying points:

    1) wheel and ring above horse

    2) hook below horse

    3) three rings in front of horse

 

CLASSIFICATION: Atrebatic D

 

NOTES:

  - Typical weight given

  - Most in museums

  - Lewes Museum example clearly shows "COMM" inscription on obverse

 

 

 

 

V366-01

366 - 01    Tincomarus First Coinage

30-25 B.C.      Rare

Gold Quarter Stater    1.2 gms.    10 mm

 

Earliest Record: Evans, 1864

 

OBV: Spiral

Identifying points:

    1) multi-armed spiral with large pellet in centre

 

REV: Celticized horse right

Identifying points:

    1) 'T' above horse

    2) pellet below horse

 

CLASSIFICATION: Atrebatic D

 

NOTES:

  - Many found at Wanborough

  - Right most rear leg of horse is often weakly-struck, can easily be mistaken for the letter "C"

  - Celtic Coin Index records indicate rarer than thought

 

 

 

 

V369-01

369 - 01    Tincomarus First Coinage

30-25 B.C      Rare

Silver Unit    15 mm

 

Earliest Record: Evans, 1890

 

OBV: Celticized head left

Identifying points:

    1) pellet-in-ring motif for eye

    2) diadem made up of a line

    3) inscription around head, probably TINC

 

REV: Celticized horse left

Identifying points:

    1) outline crescent above horse with three lines rising above it

 

CLASSIFICATION: Atrebatic D

 

NOTES:

  - This type was traditionally attributed to Verica, but noted as possibly an earlier type

  - It is now felt that the legend reads TINC

  - Previously listed as 473 - 01

 

 

 

 

V370-01

370 - 01    Tincomarus First Coinage

30-25 B.C.      Very Rare

Silver Unit    1.1 gms.    12 mm

 

Earliest Record: Van Arsdell, 1989

 

OBV: Celticized head facing

Identifying points:

    1) rounded face

    2) thick hair

 

REV: Bull left

Identifying points:

    1) TIN above bull

    2) C below bull

    3) pellet below tail

 

CLASSIFICATION: Atrebatic D

 

NOTES:

  - Many found at Wanborough

  - Celtic Coin Index records indicate rarer that originally thought

 

 

 

 

V371-01

371 - 01    Tincomarus First Coinage

30-25 B.C.      Scarce

Silver Unit    1.2 -1.3 gms.    12 mm

 

Earliest Record: Van Arsdell, 1989

 

OBV: Wind flower

Identifying points:

    1) six petals on wind flower

    2) central pellet

 

REV: Boy riding dolphin right

Identifying points:

    1) TINC in field

 

CLASSIFICATION: Atrebatic D

 

NOTES:

  - Many found at Wanborough

  - Seldom well-struck, the reverse is usually difficult to see

  - Reverse adapted from a denarius of L. Lucretius Trio

  - Letters, weakly-struck, have been reported on the obverse.

  - Celtic Coin Index records indicate rarer than originally thought

 

 

 

 

V371-01 another

371 - 01    Tincomarus First Coinage

30-25 B.C.      Scarce

Silver Unit    1.2 -1.3 gms.    12 mm

 

Earliest Record: Van Arsdell, 1989

 

OBV: Wind flower

Identifying points:

    1) six petals on wind flower

    2) central pellet

 

REV: Boy riding dolphin right

Identifying points:

    1) TINC in field

 

CLASSIFICATION: Atrebatic D

 

NOTES:

  - Many found at Wanborough

  - Seldom well-struck, the reverse is usually difficult to see

  - Reverse adapted from a denarius of L. Lucretius Trio

  - Letters, weakly-struck, have been reported on the obverse.

  - Celtic Coin Index records indicate rarer than originally thought

 

 

 

V372-01

372 - 01    Tincomarus First Coinage

30-25 B.C.      Rare

Silver Unit    13 mm

 

Earliest Record: Van Arsdell, 1989

 

OBV: Inscription in cross

Identifying points:

    1) cross made up of two lines

    2) TINC in angles

 

REV: Lion left

Identifying points:

    1) S-shaped tail

 

CLASSIFlCATlON: Atrebatic D

 

NOTES:

  - Type possibly found at Wanborough

  - Celtic Coin Index records now confirm commoner that originally thought

  - Not authenticated via metallurgical analysis, but type appears plausible

 

 

 

 

Gold Stater of Commius

 

350 - 01

 

 

 

 

Coinage of the Atrebates, Regni & Belgae

 

The Atrebates, Regni and Belgae occupied the territory that is today Berkshire, Sussex and Hampshire. Whether three distinct political groups struck coins cannot be proven today, nor can separate territories be demonstrated. The Regni are virtually unknown to history until the Roman period, and the tribal area of the Belgae is a matter of controversy. Though Belgic immigration is mentioned by Caesar, he does not specifically say where they settled, and we only have the Roman name Venta Belgarum to suggest a location. The Atrebates, also mentioned by Caesar, had tribal members on both sides of the Channel.

 

Traditionally, the three tribes have been treated numismatically as one. Based on the current state of research, there is no reason to change this approach. Attempts have been made to identify a separate coinage for the Belgae. These have been largely, but not entirely, based on reports of new types of silver coins published in numismatic trade lists since 1994. The coins do not appear to form a coherent issue of a single issuing authority and questions exist regarding their precise status. These enigmatic coins demand careful analysis and reflection before they are accepted as evidence for a Belgic coinage. Certainly, after the Gallic War, only one coinage circulated in the territory. It may someday come to pass that coinages for the Belgae and Regni can be identified, but only after a rigorous analysis of the new types has been completed. Most of these are listed under "New Material". For the remainder of this discussion the three tribes will be referred to simply as the "Atrebates" for the sake of brevity.

 

Initially, the three tribes constituted one of the most advanced groups in Britain. They had trading contacts with Belgic Gaul in the late second and early first centuries B.C., and were one of the earliest to strike coins. The earliest stater, the INSULAR TYPE struck before the Gallic War, is derived from imported Gallo-Belgic C. The next coinage, the WESTERHAM TYPE, is now felt to be inspired by the Trinovantian/Catuvellaunian coinage of the same name, struck during the Gallic War. After the war, the tribal position changed dramatically, and the Atrebates may have fallen out of favour with the Romans. It is possible the cross-Channel trading rights were given to the Trinovantes/Catuvellauni instead. A loss of trading rights may have been the result of Commius' activities during the War.

 

Commius, at first a supporter of Caesar, became disillusioned with the Romans and went over to Vercingetorix. After the collapse of Celtic resistance at Alesia, he fled to join the British part of his tribe. Later, the Atrebates struck coins with his name, and possibly the acceptance of Commius in Britain was the reason they fell out of favour. The change in trading rights altered the relative fortunes of the two tribes forever. By the end of the millennium, the Trinovantes/Catuvellauni had economic influence throughout southern Britain and had begun to rival the Atrebates.

 

The Atrebates seized the opportunity of the Trinovantian/Catuvellaunian Interregnum to mount a military incursion into Kent under their leader, Eppillus. Eppillus struck a victory stater commemorating the initial success of the expedition. The incursion was cut short, however, by the elevation of Cunobeline to the Trinovantian/Catuvellaunian throne. He drove the Atrebates out of Kent and Eppillus promptly disappeared. He is replaced on the coins by Verica, a self-styled 'son of Commius'.

 

Sometime before the Claudian invasion, Verica was in turn overthrown. He probably was the historical Celtic leader 'Bericus' who appeared in Rome seeking aid from Claudius. Verica was replaced on the coins by Epaticcus, who styled himself a 'son of Tasciovanus'. Whether the family-tie was real is not so important, the result was the Atrebatic leadership was now held by a Trinovantian/Catuvellaunian sympathizer. Shortly before the Claudian invasion, Epaticcus was replaced by Caratacus, the famous leader of the British resistance against the Roman invaders. The Atrebatic coinage came to an end during the forties, as Caratacus fled westwards to lead the resistance amongst the tribes in Wales. One Atrebatic leader known to history, Cogidubnus, has not yet been identified on the coinage. It seems he was not elevated to leadership until the coinage had come to an end.

 

The oppidum of Calleva, Silchester today, was the site of an Atrebatic mint, and the name Calleva appears on coins of Eppillus. Other leaders may have had mints elsewhere, but none have been identified. Plausible mint sites for separate Belgic or Regnan coinages have not been identified.

Copyright R. D. Van Arsdell 2017