Celtic Coinage of Britain
third edition
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Uninscribed Silver Coins of the Corieltauvi
The first silver coins carry an obverse type copied directly from the Roman Republican denarii of C. f. Hosidius Geta. The Roman prototypes are dated to about 60 B.C., and thus the introduction of silver coinage in Corieltauvian territory coincides roughly with the gold staters of 55 B.C. The HOSIDIUS TYPE is the silver counterpart of the North East Coast staters.
The introduction of silver coins was probably the result of the economic stresses of the Gallic War and the increased contact between Rome and Britain. Roman coins, primarily silver denarii, would have circulated in increasing numbers during this period. The Celtic tribes in closest contact with Rome would have been induced to strike their own versions as a result. The Corieltauvi, rather than being isolated, are seen to be participating in the mainstream of the socioeconomic changes sweeping Britain in this period.
About 45 B.C., the HOSIDIUS TYPE is replaced by the SOUTH FERRIBY TYPE, coincidentally with the change in the gold coinage. Although there is considerable similarity between the two types, the SOUTH FERRIBY exhibits more stylization of the boar and horse. This type continues until the inception of the dynastic issues, about 10 B.C.
855 - 03 Hosidius Type
55-45 B.C. Rare
Silver Unit 1.2-1.4 gms. 14-15 mm
Earliest Record: Evans, 1864
OBV: Boar right
Identifying points:
- spear pierces boar's back
- elaborate anemone above boar
- boars's tail has counter-clockwise curl
- reversed "S" object below boar
- elaborate spiral above boar's head
REV: Celticized horse left
Identifying points:
- ring below horse
- large ring of pellets with large central pellet above horse
- ring and an elongated ring above horse's head
CLASSIFICATION: Corieltauvian B
NOTES:
- This is the earliest extant Corieltauvian type because it conforms closest to the denarii of C. f. Hosidius Geta
- The reversed "S" object below the boar is the vestige of the dog on the Roman prototype
- The reverse die was used until severely damaged, a large die-break is often seen in front of the horse's nose
- Reverse adapted from 80 - 01
855 - 05 Hosidius Type
55-45 B.C. Very Rare
Silver Unit ca. 1.0 gm. 14 mm
Earliest Record: Camden, 1610 (Philemon Holland edition)
OBV: Boar right
Identifying points:
- spear piercing boar is missing
- ring and pellet motifs surround boar
- vestiges of reversed "S" object below boar
REV: Celticized horse left
Identifying points:
- elaborate anemone above horse
- ring and pellet motifs in front of and behind horse
CLASSIFICATION: Corieltauvian B
855 - 07 Hosidius Type
55-45 B.C. Very Rare
Silver Unit 14 mm
Earliest Record: Evans, 1864
OBV: Boar right
Identifying points:
- as 855 - 05
REV: Celticized horse left
Identifying points:
- as 855 - 05, but no pellet-in-ring motif in front of horse
CLASSIFICATION: Corieltauvian B
855 - 08 Hosidius Type
55-45 B.C. Extremely Rare
Silver Unit 14-15 mm
Earliest Record: Allen, 1963
OBV: Boar right
Identifying points:
- as 855 - 03, but no reversed "S" below boar
REV: Celticized horse left
Identifying points:
- similar to 855 - 03
- pellet-in-ring inside ring of pellets above horse
- pellet-in-ring motif in front of horse
- ring, or pellet-in-ring motif below horse
CLASSIFICATION: Corieltauvian B
NOTES:
- A later variety than 855 - 03, because the reversed "S" has been deleted
857 - 01 Hosidius Type
55-45 B.C. Very Rare
Silver Unit ca. 1.4 gms. 16 mm
Earliest Record: Evans, 1890
OBV: Boar right
Identifying points:
- large ring of pellets above boar
- ring-and-pellet motifs above, below and in front of boar
- upper portion of boar's front leg made up of two lines
REV: Celticized horse left
Identifying points:
- large ring of pellets above horse
- ring-and-pellet motifs above, below and in front of horse
CLASSIFICATION: Corieltauvian B
NOTES:
- A later variety, because reversed "S" object has been replaced with a ring-and-pellet motif
857 - 03 Hosidius Type
55-45 B.C. Extremely Rare
Silver Unit 15 mm
Earliest Record: Evans, 1890
OBV: Boar right
Identifying points:
- as 857 - 01
REV: Celticized horse left
Identifying points:
- as 875 - 01, but no ring-and-pellet motif below horse
CLASSIFICATION: Corieltauvian B
NOTES:
- Most are in museums
857 - 05 Hosidius Type
55-45 B.C. Very Rare
Silver Unit 15 mm
Earliest Record: Poste, 1853
OBV: Boar right
Identifying points:
- as 857 - 01, but ring-in-pellet motif in ring of pellets above boar
REV: Celticized horse left
Identifying points:
- as 857 -01, but ring-in-pellet motif in ring of pellets above horse
CLASSIFICATION: Corieltauvian B
NOTES:
- Most are in museums
860 - 01 Hosidius Type
55-45 B.C. Extremely Rare
Silver Unit ca. 1.3 gms. 14 mm
Earliest Record: Evans, 1864
OBV: Boar right
Identifying points:
- boar stands on exergual line made up of two rows of pellets
- wheel in front of and behind boar
OBV: Celticized horse right
Identifying points:
- eight-spoked wheel above horse
- Ring in front of horse
CLASSIFICATION: Corieltauvian B
862 - 01 Hosidius Type
55-45 B.C. Extremely Rare
Silver Fractional Unit ca. 0.5 gms. 12 mm
Earliest Record: Evans, 1864
OBV: Boar right
Identifying points:
- four-spoked wheel above boar
- ring-and-pellet motif behind boar
OBV: Celticized horse right
Identifying points:
- four-spoked wheel above horse
CLASSIFICATION: Corieltauvian B
NOTES:
- This coin is a fractional denomination of 860 - 01
864 - 01 Hosidius Type
55-45 B.C. Very Rare
Silver Unit ca. 1.2-1.4 gms. 13 mm
Earliest Record: Mack, 1953
OBV: Boar right
Identifying points:
- ring-and-double-pellet motif behind boar
- two elaborate curves above boar
REV: Celticized horse left
Identifying points:
- ring-and-double-pellet motif above horse
- elaborate curve above ring-and-double-pellet motif
CLASSIFICATION: Corieltauvian B
866 - 01 Hosidius Type
55-45 B.C. Extremely Rare
Silver Fractional Unit ca. 0.3 gms. 0.9 mm
Earliest Record: Muret and Chabouillet, 1890
OBV: Boar right
Identifying points:
- pellet below boar
REV: Celticized horse left
Identifying points:
- pellets above and below horse
CLASSIFICATION: Corieltauvian B
NOTES:
- Possibly a fractional denomination of 864 - 01
- A most enigmatic coin, requires additional study
- Listing here defers to Allen's judgement
- de la Tour 9596 (no illustration), catalogued in Muret and Chabouillet, p. 225
- Allen, 1963, pl. 5, no. 241
867 - 01 Hosidius Type
55-45 B.C. Extremely Rare
Silver Unit ca. 1.1-1.2 gms. 15 mm
Earliest Record: Van Arsdell, 1989
OBV: Boar left
Identifying points:
- ring-and-pellet motif behind boar
- large pellet on boar's shoulder
- four elaborate curves above boar
REV: Celticized horse left
Identifying points:
- large ring of pellets enclosing a ring-and-pellet motif in front of horse
- same object above horse but large ring comprised of a greater number of pellets
- two ring-and-pellet motifs below horse with a row of pellets in between running vertically
CLASSIFICATION: Corieltauvian B
875 - 01 South Ferriby Type
ca. 45-10 B.C. Extremely Rare
Silver Unit 17 mm
Earliest Record: Evans, 1864
OBV: Stylized boar right
Identifying points:
- ring-and-pellet motif above, below and in front of boar
- upper portion of boar's front leg comprised of two lines
REV: Celticized horse right
Identifying points:
- horse more stylized than on Hosidius type
- ring of pellets above horse
- ring-and-pellet motif below horse
- upper portion of horse's front legs comprised of two lines
- horse has "belt"
CLASSIFICATION: Corieltauvian D
875 - 02 South Ferriby Type
ca. 45-10 B.C. Rare
Silver Unit ca. 1.4 gms. 15 mm
Earliest Record: Evans, 1864
OBV: Stylized boar right
Identifying points:
- ring-and-pellet motifs below and behind boar
- large ring of pellets with large central pellet above boar
- upper portion of boar's front leg comprised of two lines
REV: Celticized horse right
Identifying points:
- horse more stylized than on Hostdius type
- ring of pellets above horse
- ring-and-pellet motifs below and in front of horse
- upper portion of horse's front legs comprised of two lines
- horse has "necklace"
CLASSIFICATION: Corieltauvian D
877 - 01 South Ferriby Type
ca. 45-10 B.C. Scarce
Silver Unit ca. 1.4 gm. 15 mm
Earliest Record: Evans, 1864
OBV: Stylized boar right
Identifying points:
- pellet below boar's tail
- large ring of pellets above boar
- upper portion of boar's front leg comprised of two lines
- no object below boar
REV: Celticized horse right
Identifying points:
- horse more stylized than on Hosidius type
- ring of pellets above horse
- pellet below horse's tail
- upper portion of horse's front legs comprised of two lines
- horse has "necklace" and "belt"
- no object below horse
CLASSIFIC ATION: Corieltauvian D
NOTES:
- Pellet below horse's tail may be a privy mark denoting date or issue
- Celtic Coin Index records now indicate commoner than originaly thought
877 - 03 South Ferriby Type
ca. 45-10 B.C. Scarce
Silver Unit ca. 1.1 gms. 15 mm
Earliest Record: Mack, 1953
OBV: Almost plain
Identifying points:
- vestiges of boar may be visible
REV: Celticized horse right
Identifying points:
- horse more stylized than on Hosidius type
- ring of pellets with large central pellet above horse
- two pellets below horse's tail
- upper portion of horse's front legs comprised of two lines
- horse has "necklace" and "belt"
- no object below horse
CLASSIFICATION: Corieltauvian D
NOTES:
- Pellets below horse's tail may be a privy mark denoting date or issue
- Obverse die used until almost completely obliterated
877 - 03 South Ferriby Type
ca. 45-10 B.C. Scarce
Silver Unit ca. 1.1 gms. 15 mm
Earliest Record: Mack, 1953
OBV: Almost plain
Identifying points:
- vestiges of boar may be visible
REV: Celticized horse right
Identifying points:
- horse more stylized than on Hosidius type
- ring of pellets with large central pellet above horse
- two pellets below horse's tail
- upper portion of horse's front legs comprised of two lines
- horse has "necklace" and "belt"
- no object below horse
CLASSIFICATION: Corieltauvian D
NOTES:
- Pellets below horse's tail may be a privy mark denoting date or issue
- Obverse die used until almost completely obliterated
877 - 05 South Ferriby Type
ca. 45-10 B.C. Extremely Rare
Silver Unit 16 mm
Earliest Record: Allen, 1963 (from the 1905 South Ferriby Hoard)
OBV: Almost plain
Identifying points:
- vestiges of boar may be visible
REV: Celticized horse right
Identifying points:
- horse more stylized than on Hosidius type
- large ring with large central pellet above horse
- no pellets below horse's tail
- upper portion of horse's front legs comprised of two lines
- horse has "necklace"
- horse has a mane
- no object below horse
CLASSIFICATION: Corieltauvian D
NOTES:
- Obverse die used until almost completely obliterated
877 - 07 South Ferriby Type
ca. 45-10 B.C. Rare
Silver Unit ca. 1.2 gms. 13 mm
Earliest Record: Mack, 1953
OBV: Almost plain
Identifying points:
- vestiges of boar may be visible
REV: Celticized horse right
Identifying points:
- horse more stylized than on Hosidius type
- large ring of pellets above horse
- one or more pellets below horse's tail
- upper portion of horse's front legs comprised of two lines
- no object below horse
CLASSIFICATION: Corieltauvian D
NOTES:
- Pellets below horse's tail may be a privy mark denoting date or issue
- Obverse die used until almost completely obliterated
The Coinage of the Corieltauvi
The Corieltauvi occupied Lincolnshire, Leicestershire, Nottinghamshire, parts of Humberside and perhaps parts of Derbyshire and South Yorkshire. The correct name of the tribe, obtained from a tile-grafitto found in 1965, is CORIELTAUVI. In the past, the tribe had been known as the "Coritani", but the new spelling has been widely accepted. The Corieltauvi, for many years, were thought to be a largely peripheral tribe, untouched by the changes transforming southern Britain. This view has been questioned by archaeological studies made after 1960. They are now considered to have been an advanced group – early to adopt the potter's wheel, for example.
Recent studies indicate the coinage was one of the earliest struck in Britain, appearing shortly after the Atrebatic/Regnan/Belgic Westerham stater. The Corieltauvi struck coins continuously until the Claudian invasion or later. The coinage has a complex system of privy marks that may have been used for die control, weight specification or perhaps identification of metallurgical content.
The coinage was at one time thought to have a Brigantian origin because several large hoards were found in the territory of that tribe. However, more comprehensive analyses of findspots identify a primarily Corieltauvian source. Recently, assertions have been made that northerly finds of late types are Brigantian, but this is a case of over-interpretation of insufficient information. Given the fluid conditions after the Claudian Invasion, the location of the Corieltauvian mint may have shifted north. Similarly, the final resting places of the latest coins would naturally tend to be in the north. The possibility that the Brigantes struck some of the later types remains. But too little information exists at this time to prove a separate Brigantian coinage.
The coinage begins around 55 B.C. with the NORTH EAST COAST TYPE, derived stylistically from the Abstract Design Type staters of the Ambiani. These coins, struck to a standard weight of 6.25 grammes, appeared in two versions. The horse on the reverse faces either right or left, and previously it was felt the change signaled a difference in the weight of the two types. However, more recent weight studies show the difference is smaller than thought. In the current catalogue, the two are listed as a single issue. The NORTH EAST COAST TYPE was replaced about 45 B.C. by the SOUTH FERRIBY TYPE, signaling a significant weight reduction to 5.7 grammes.
The South Ferriby Type and its variations display the most complex series of privy marks found on any Ancient British coinage. Cleverly-made plated forgeries are known for most types. The forgeries were produced by hammering gold foil around a bronze core prior to striking, and some of the forgeries appear to be struck from official dies. The similarity between genuine and false coins, however, may only indicate the extent of technological knowledge amongst the tribal population – the forgers may have been as expert as the mint-workers in die-cutting. The proficiency of the forgers may help explain the need for complex privy marks on the genuine coins. Alternatively, future metallurgical studies may prove the marks signal changes in the gold/silver/copper relationship instead and thus serve as assay marks.
A long series of inscribed coins followed the uninscribed, and the coinage ended with the Roman suppression of tribal coinage during the fifties A.D.
Evidence of a Celtic mint has been discovered at Old Sleaford. However it is not known if it was the only Corieltauvian mint, nor if it was the mint producing all the coins listed in this catalogue.