Celtic Coinage of Britain
third edition
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Earliest Trinovantian/Catuvellaunian Coinages
Three types of staters appear about the time of Caesar's invasion of 55 B.C., the CLACTON, WALDINGFIELD and NORTHERN WESTERHAM Types.
Originally, the Northern Westerham Type was assigned to the territory of the Atrebates, Regni & Belgae, but John Sills has convincingly argued that it should be reassigned. While it may come to be shown that the Northern Westerham Type should be assigned to the Catuvellauni, and the Clacton and Waldingfield Types to the Trinovantes, the evidence is insufficient to prove this today – there are too few findspots.
Thus, the catalogue here continues the idea that individual coinages for the Trinovantes and Catuvellauni cannot be distinguished at the time of the Gallic War based on the findspot distributions. This does not suggest the two tribes had a unified political structure.
Earlier Clacton Type
Known examples from Clacton Hoard.
Designated "earlier" because closer to Gallo-Belgic C in style.
Later Clacton Type
Known examples from Clacton Hoard.
Designated "later" because further from Gallo-Belgic C in style.
1453 - 01 Westerham (Northern) Type
ca. 55 B.C. Common
Gold Stater 6.6 gms. 18 mm
Earliest Record: Evans, 1864
OBV: Abstracted head of Apollo right
Identifying points:
1) wreath: leaves downwards
2) spike-with-crescent
REV: Disjointed horse left
Identifying points:
1) pellet under horse
2) horse more disjointed than on the imported AV staters
CLASSIFICATION: Trinovantian X
NOTES:
- Celtic Coin Index records now indicate commoner than previously thought
- Many in museums
- Standard weight given
- Originally assigned to the territory of the Atrebates, Regni & Belgae (previously 200 - 01)
- John Sills has convincingly argued that these should be reassigned to the Trinovantes & Catuvellauni
1455 - 01 Earlier Clacton Type
60-55 B.C. Scarce
Gold Stater ca. 6.4 gms. 19 mm
Earliest Record: Hill, 1919
OBV: Abstracted head right
Identifying points:
1) similar to 46 - 01 (see 46 - 01)
2) wreath: leaves upwards
REV: Disjointed horse right
Identifying points:
1) below horse, pellet with two arms extending downwards
2) ring below pellet
3) star below horse's nose
4) "coffee bean" below horse's tail
CLASSIFICATION: Trinovantian B
NOTES:
- Previously, all known specimens were from the Clacton Hoard (Hill, 1919, pp. 172-178, pl. VII)
- Celtic Coin Index records now indicate commoner than previoulsy thought because of new finds
- 1455 - 01, 1455 - 03 and 1455 - 07 are obverse die-linked with Clacton Hoard coins in the British Museum
- Many are in museums
- Typical weight given
1455 - 03 Earlier Clacton Type
60-55 B.C. Extremely Rare
Gold Stater ca. 6.4 gms. 19 mm
Earliest Record: Hill, 1919
OBV: Abstracted head right
Identifying points:
1) similar to 46 - 01 (see 46 - 01)
2) wreath: leaves upwards
REV: Disjointed horse right
Identifying points:
1) similar to 1455 - 01
2) "coffee bean" above horse's tail
CLASSIFICATION: Trinovantian B
NOTES:
- All known examples are from the Clacton Hoard (Hill, 1919, pp. 172-178, pl. VII)
- 1455-01, 1455-03 and 1455-07 are obverse die-linked with Clacton Hoard coins in the British Museum
- Most are in museums
- Typical weight given
1455 - 07 Earlier Clacton Type
60-55 B.C. Extremely Rare
Gold Stater ca. 6.4 gms. 19 mm
Earliest Record: Hill, 1919
OBV: Abstracted head right
Identifying points:
1) similar to 46 - 01 (see 46 - 01)
2) wreath: leaves upwards
REV: Disjointed horse right
Identifying points:
1) below pellet with four short rays and two curved arms
2) shaggy mane on horse
3) "coffee bean" below horse's tail
CLASSIFICATION: Trinovantian B
NOTES:
- All known examples are from the Clacton Hoard (Hill, 1919, pp. 172-178, pl. VII)
- 1455-01, 1455-03 and 1455-07 are obverse die-linked with Clacton Hoard coins in the British Museum
- Most are in museums
- Typical weight given
1458 - 01 Later Clacton Type
60-55 B.C. Extremely Rare
Gold Stater ca. 6.4 gms. 18 mm
Earliest Record: Hill, 1919
OBV: Abstracted head of Apollo right
Identifying points:
1) wreath: leaves downwards
2) ring beneath lower end of wreath
3) stylized garment (lower portion of coin) is now represented by inverted "V" with single line of pellets
REV: Disjointed horse left
Identifying points:
1) three broad crescents form horse's neck and body
2) "star" made up of large pellet with ten rays ending in pellets
3) row of pellets beneath "star"
CLASSIFICATION: Trinovantian B
NOTES:
- All known specimens from Clacton Hoard
- Most in museums
- All specimens of type 1458 - 01 to 1458 - 09 are struck from the same obverse die
- Type designated "later" because further removed from Continental prototype 46 - 01 (see 46 - 01)
- Typical weight given
1458 - 03 Later Clacton Type
60-55 B.C. Extremely Rare
Gold Stater ca. 6.4 gms. 20 mm
Earliest record: Hill, 1919
OBV: Abstracted head of Apollo right
Identifying points:
1) struck from same die as 1458 - 01
REV: Disjointed horse left
Identifying points:
1) As 1458 - 01
2) "star" made up of large pellet with seven rays ending in pellets
CLASSIFICATION: Trinovantian B
NOTES:
- All known specimen from Clacton Hoard
- Most in museums
- All specimens of type 1458 - 01 to 1458 - 09 are struck from the same obverse die
- Type designated "later" because further removed from Continental prototype 46 - 01 (see 46 - 01)
- Typical weight given
1458 - 05 Later Clacton Type
60-55 B.C. Extremely Rare
Gold Stater ca. 6.4 gms. 20 mm
Earliest Record: Hill, 1919
OBV: Abstracted head of Apollo right
Identifying points:
1) struck from same die as 1458 - 01
REV: Disjointed horse left
Identifying points:
1) As 1458 - 01
2) "star" made up of large pellet with six rays ending in pellets
3) curved exergual line
CLASSIFICATION: Trinovantian B
NOTES:
- All known specimen from Clacton Hoard
- Most in museums
- All specimens of type 1458 - 01 to 1458 - 09 are struck from the same obverse die
- Type designated "later" because further removed from Continental prototype 46 - 01 (see 46 - 01)
- Typical weight given
1458 - 07 Later Clacton Type
60-55 B.C. Extremely Rare
Gold Stater ca. 6.4 gms. 19 mm
Earliest Record: Hill, 1919
OBV: Abstracted head of Apollo right
Identifying points:
1) struck from same die as 1458 - 01
REV: Disjointed horse left
Identifying points:
1) As 1458 - 01
2) "star" made up of large pellet with six rays ending in pellets
3) almost straight exergual line
CLASSIFICATION: Trinovantian B
NOTES:
- All known specimen from Clacton Hoard
- Most in museums
- All specimens of type 1458 - 01 to 1458 - 09 are struck from the same obverse die
- Type designated "later" because further removed from Continental prototype 46 - 01 (see 46 - 01)
- Typical weight given
1458 - 09 Later Clacton Type
60-55 B.C. Extremely Rare
Gold Stater ca. 6.4 gms. 20 mm
Earliest Record: Hill, 1919
OBV: Abstracted head of Apollo right
Identifying points:
1) struck from same die as 1458 - 01
REV: Disjointed horse left
Identifying points:
1) As 1458 - 01
2) "star" made up of large pellet with six rays ending in pellets
3) ring in front of horse
4) ring at junction of horse's neck and body
5) rings in angles of horse's body and legs
CLASSIFICATION: Trinovantian B
NOTES:
- All known specimen from Clacton Hoard
- Most in museums
- All specimens of type 1458 - 01 to 1458 - 09 are struck from the same obverse die
- Type designated "later" because further removed from Continental prototype 46 - 01 (see 46 - 01)
- Typical weight given
1460 - 01 Later Clacton Type
60-55 B.C. Very Rare
Gold Quarter Stater 1.4-1.8 gms. 14 mm
Earliest Record: Hill, 1919
OBV: Plain
Identifying points:
1) almost obliterated pattern, possibly Apollo head
REV: Cross
Identifying points:
1) outline cross, pellets in angles
CLASSIFICATION: Trinovantian B
NOTES:
- Five specimens, from Clacton Hoard, all struck from same reverse die, are currently in museums
- Celtic Coin Index records now indicate commoner than previously thought
- Modern forgery known 1460 - 01F (see 1460 - 01F)
- Typical weight given
Coinage of the Trinovantes/Catuvellauni
Traditionally, the Trinovantes and Catuvellauni were considered distinct tribes, each with its own coinage. An elaborate history, written from the coin inscriptions, described a long intertribal warfare. The Trinovantes received blow after devastating blow from the warlike Catuvellauni and lost Camulodunum, their tribal capital, several times in the process. The evidence was founded partially on Caesar's writings – the ruler of the Trinovantes had been killed by Cassivellaunus. Cassivellaunus was assumed to be a ruler of the Catuvellauni, though Caesar never stated so. The rest of the support came from an analysis of the findspots of the Dynastic coins.
Today, this history is considered a myth – the coin evidence no longer supports continual internecine warfare north of the Thames. Cassivellaunus' tribal origin is not mentioned by any contemporary writer and there is no indication he was the ruler of the Catuvellauni. The similarity of the tribal and personal names is coincidence, not a link between the two. Furthermore, recent analyses of the findspot distributions indicate the coins circulated farther afield than previously thought. The territory north of the Thames can no longer be separated into two distinct coin-using zones.
Instead, the coinage is seen today as that of a single economic group – coin types appear in succession and circulate not only throughout the area immediately north of the Thames, but into Icenian and Cantian territory as well. Metrology and typology show the inscriptions on the dynastic issues are those of successive rulers, not contemporary adversaries.
In general, the picture today is of a powerful, united tribe occupying the area north of the Thames. The unification must have occurred shortly before the Gallic War, or during it. This unified tribe had economic influence beyond its borders which increased throughout the period of the coinage. The tribal group ultimately controlled the economy of the Cantii, and to a lesser extent the economies of the Iceni and Atrebates/Regni/Belgae.
But what was this group group?
That two tribes existed is not in doubt. Caesar mentions the Trinovantes in his Gallic War commentaries, stating they were probably the most powerful tribe in southern Britain. The Catuvellauni are mentioned on an inscribed Roman stone from Hadrian's wall. There were two minting centres in the territory, at the tribal oppida of Verulamium and Camulodunum, suggesting two political centres existed. However, the coinage is a unified one since the two tribal groups must have merged into a single economic unit before they started producing coins. As a result, the tribes cannot be distinguished numismatically, and they are referred to as the Trinovantes/Catuvellauni. For all practical purposes, by the introduction of the Whaddon Chase Type about 55 B.C., they had come to act as one economically, and perhaps had been doing so as early as 125 B.C. The inscribed coinage argues for political unity by 40 B.C. as well. The dynastic coins show an orderly succession of rulers, except for a brief period around the turn of the millenium. This appears to have been an Interregnum, during which the succession was disputed.
The Trinovantes/Catuvellauni occupied the entire territory immediately north of the Thames. They were bounded on the north-east by the Iceni, on the south by the Cantii and Atrebates/Regni/Belgae, on the north the by the Corieltauvi, and on the west, probably, by the Dobunni. Thus, they were in physical contact with all the tribes of the south-east, and in a position to exert influence.
By 125 B.C.. they were importing coins from the Ambiani on the Continent, and shared the cross-Channel trade with the Cantii and Atrebates/Regni. Large Flan, Defaced Die and Abstract Type gold coins are found throughout their territory in quantity.
When the Cantii began casting bronze coins about 100 B.C., the Trinovantes/Catuvellauni followed this lead and produced their own cast coinage for a brief period. In the early 1980s a small hoard of unusual cast bronze coins was dispersed in Europe, about 100 to 300 pieces with an alleged 'Folkestone findspot'. At first this was dismissed as incorrect, and the coins branded Gaulish. However, during the late summer of 1987 a hoard of about 2,000 cast bronzes, including the unusual type, were found in a pit in the vicinity of West Thurrock, Essex. The coins occurred in at least sixteen varieties, with a reasonable typological progression. One coin had a large protrusion of flash which would have broken off had the coin been moved any great distance. In general, the hoard appeared to be made up of coins collected by a mint, perhaps for remelting. No other evidence of minting activity was noted at the site, but it appears the mint cannot have been far away.
THURROCK TYPE cast bronzes are also found as single finds in Essex. A few have been found in the Thames River and one coin was found in Dorset. Many single finds and one small hoard have been found in Kent, prompting some to the conclusion they are a Kentish issue. The coins cannot have been used for a very long time. Three interpretations are likely: 1) they have a Gaulish origin and were briefly imported, 2) they have a British origin and represent the first coinage of the Trinovantes/Catuvellauni, or 3) they are a Kentish issue. Although similar coins are reported from the Continent (Castelin, 1978, numbers 477 to 485), they are not sufficiently alike to have a common Gaulish origin. Thus, of the three interpretations, the Gaulish origin appears the least likely. The Thurrock Hoard, representing a complete corpus of the series, would have been very difficult to assemble outside the mint – it very well may be a hoard of mint scrap. Thus, the suggestion here is that the Thurrock Hoard was produced in the vicinity of the findspot – the coins representing a Trinovantian/Catuvellaunian issue.
Thurrock Types appear to have been influenced by the Prototype Period cast bronzes of the Cantii, dating them about l00 to 90 B.C. Within twenty years, the tribe was striking its own gold coinage.
The Trinovantes/Catuvellauni were one of the earliest tribes to begin striking gold staters, with the introduction of the CLACTON and NORTHERN WESTERHAM TYPES around 70-60 B.C. A hoard of the CLACTON TYPES was found with Ambiani Abstract Type staters at Clacton beach. This type, like all the early types struck in Britain was, short-lived – submerged by the large influx of Gallic War staters. About the middle of the war, the tribe began to strike the WHADDON CHASE TYPE, and continued to produce coins until the Claudian invasion a hundred years later.
The Trinovantes/Catuvellauni apparently collaborated with the Romans during the War. They probably did this by hampering trade between the Durotriges and the Armorican tribes, by competing for supplies within Britain. They may have delivered supplies directly to the Roman army, as well. The tribe obtained a large amount of gold for this effort and evidently became the recipient of wine-trading rights with the Romans. This favour ultimately gave the tribe an economic superiority over all the other tribes in the southeast after the war.
The tribe operated two mints, one at Verulamium, the other at Camulodunum. Initially, the Verulamium mint produced most of the coins, but it was overshadowed by Camulodunum in the first century A.D. The remains of both mints have been found during archaeological excavations.
It has long been asserted that Caesar gave coin-manufacturing assistance during his visit in 54 B.C., because the coins of the period display Romanizing influences. Training was probably unnecessary, however, because the moneyers would have been expert metal-workers already. The die-cutting on Whaddon Chase staters is excellent, but surprisingly, the dies were cut in soft metal. They broke up quickly and many of the existing pieces show die-damage. Sometimes depressions appear where the die surface heaved up during punching. Normally, the heaved surfaces would have been planed off, but this was not done for some reason. All this suggests that the minting was hurried, not unusual for a time of war.
The Trinovantes/Catuvellauni continued to produce coins after the War, and there appears to be little reduction in the amount produced. A silver coinage started either during the War or just after. Shortly after Commius placed his name on the Atrebatic/Regnan/Belgic coinage, the tribe began its own dynastic series, probably around 40 B.C. By this time the tribe was producing bronze coins for small change, as well as gold and silver. The series of inscribed coins gives the names of the successive tribal leaders for the next eighty years.