Celtic Coinage of Britain

third edition

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V1052-01

 

History

Early Dynastic Coinages    (Info)

 

Coinage in the Region of the Peripheral Tribes 30-1 B.C.

 

Durotriges

 

The Durotriges virtually disappear from the numismatic scene by 30 B.C. They had suspended all gold and silver coinage by this date and continued with only a series of struck bronze coins. These bronzes mimicked the earlier silver staters, but were poorly-made and became increasingly crude as time went on.

 

Dobunni

 

The Dobunni continued to issue silver coins throughout the rest of the century, but there is some question whether they struck gold continuously. The uninscribed gold coins are known today in only a handful of specimens. However, the silver issues are relatively plentiful, with a long succession of types. By 30 B.C. staters inscribed with the name CORIO appeared, replaced around 15 B.C. by those inscribed BODVOC.

 

Corieltauvi

 

The Corieltauvi continued to issue the South Ferriby Types up to 10 B.C., changing the privy marks on the reverses in a sophisticated manner. The progression of these marks has not yet been fully determined. About 10 B.C., the tribe added the inscription VEP to the South Ferriby Type staters.

Ian Leins (157) now suggests that the Coins incribed IISVPRASV are also among the earliest of the inscribed types, perhaps contemporary with the VEP staters.

A major study of Corieltauvian coinage, conducted by Geoff Cottam awaits publication – this may revise our view in the future.

 

Summary

 

Thus by 10 B.C., seven tribal authorities throughout Britgain were striking coins. All except the Durotrigan and Icenian issues carried inscriptions. These coinages were largely local ones and did not circulate beyond the tribal areas for the most part (72). The one significant exception to this was the coinage of the Trinovantes/Catuvellauni, the tribe which benefited from Roman sponsorship.

As the millennium drew to a close, Tasciovanus either died or lost his throne, causing turmoil throughout southeastern Britain. The ensuing events are chronicled in a shadowy manner by the coins of the "Interregnum".

 

Next Section – "The Interregnum"

 

 

 

 

 

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Dobunnic gold stater of BODVOC

 

V1052 – 01

 

 

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V1290-01

1290 - 01    Struck Bronze Type

30 B.C.-10 A.D.      Common

Bronze Stater    ca. 3.4 gms.    19 mm

 

Earliest Record: Evans, 1864

 

OBV: Abstract head of Apollo right

Identifying points:

  1. similar to 1235 - 01 but head larger and cruder

 

REV: Disjointed horse left

Identifying points:

  1. similar to 1235 - 01 but horse larger and cruder

 

CLASSIFICATION: Durotrigan J

 

NOTES:

  • Many in museums
  • The style of these becomes increasingly cruder over time.
  • Often confused with plated forgeries of 1235 - 01
  • The trend-surface map suggests a date 58-45 B.C. for the earlier types, but the records of findspots must include some plated forgeries mistaken for bronzes. The dating for this type needs more investigation, and the one given above is provisional, at best.

 

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V1035-01

1035 - 01    Corio

30-15 B.C.      Common

Gold Stater    5.60 gms.    18 mm

 

Earliest Record: Poste, 1853

 

OBV: Dobunnic Emblem

Identifying points:

  1. plain except for emblem
  2. emblem in form of tree-like object with three branches
  3. pellet at bottom of emblem

 

REV: Celticized horse right

Identifying points:

  1. tail has three strands with pellets
  2. six-spoked wheel below horse
  3. ear has elliptical shape
  4. "V" form with pellet in angle and three pellets below tail
  5. CORIO above horse

 

CLASSIFICATION: Dobunnic B

 

NOTES:

  • Standard Weight given, the heaviest of the dynastic series
  • Most in museums
  • Modern forgery exists – (see 1035 - 01F)
  • Celtic Coin Index records now indicate commoner than previously thought

 

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V1052-01

1052 - 01    Bodvoc

15-10 B.C.      Scarce

Gold Stater    5.55 gms.    18 mm

 

Earliest Record: Camden, 1610 (Philemon Holland edition)

 

OBV: Plain with inscription

Identifying points:

  1. plain, except for inscription
  2. BODVOC in centre of field

 

REV: Celticized horse right

Identifying points:

  1. tail has three strands with pellets
  2. eight-spoked wheel with axle below horse
  3. two pellet in ring motifs, a crescent and a small 'X' above horse
  4. three large pellets below tail
  5. elliptical ear

 

CLASSIFICATION: Dobunnic C

 

NOTES:

  • Standard Weight given
  • Some in museums
  • Celtic Coin Index now indicates commoner than previously thought
  • Modern forgery exists – (see 1052 - 01F)
  • BODVOC is a fairly common Celtic name, known from a Central Gaulish Potter's stamp

 

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V811-05

811 - 05    Ferriby Type

ca. 45-10 B.C.      Scarce

Gold Stater    5.2-5.7 gms.    18 mm

 

Earliest Record: Poste, 1853

 

OBV: Abstracted head of Apollo right

Identifying points:

  1. spike with one crescent, end of spike may be bent to form two-pronged hook
  2. wreath: leaves inwards

 

REV: Disjointed horse left

Identifying points:

  1. pointed 'anchor' above horse
  2. eight-pointed star below horse

 

CLASSIFICATION: Corieltauvian D

 

Notes:

  • Celtic Coin Index suggests this type could be rarer than indicated, but records usually do not identify exact die variety.

 

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V905-02

905 - 02    VEP

10 - 43 A.D.      Extremely Rare

Gold/Bronze Plated Stater    3.8-4.3 gms.   20 mm

 

Earliest Record: Evans, 1864  (reporting a find ca. 1848)

 

OBV: Plain

Identifying points:

  1. some trace of Apollo head may appear on some coins

 

REV: Celticized horse left

Identifying points:

  1. same horse as on South Ferriby Type
  2. horse's head made up of pellet with triangle for nose
  3. VEP above horse

 

CLASSIFICATION: Corieltauvian I

 

NOTES:

  • Typical weight range given
  • Most are in museums

 

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Leins 2011a

 

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V920-01

920 - 01    IISVPRASV

10-43 A.D.      Rare

Gold Stater    5.40 gms.    19 mm

 

Earliest Record: Poste, 1853

 

OBV: Corieltauvian Apollo-Wreath

Identifying points:

  1. as 910 - 01
  2. two crosses in wreath

 

REV: Celticized horse left

Identifying points:

  1. star below tail
  2. ESVP above horse, first letter usually uncertain
  3. ASV below horse
  4. pellet in centre of body

 

CLASSIFICATION: Corieltauvian K

 

NOTES:

  • Star below horse's tail and crosses in the wreath link IISVPRASV and VEP CORF coinages
  • Some are in museums
  • Estimated standard weight given because too few coins exist to determine standard with certainty
  • Celtic Coin Index records now indicate commoner than previously thought

 

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Van Arsdell 1992g

 

(See Van Arsdell 1992g)

 

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This section discusses the first inscribed coinages in the Peripheral Regions.

 

Dobunni

  • CORIO
  • BODVOC

 

Corieltauvi

  • VEP
  • IISVPRASV

 

Copyright R. D. Van Arsdell 2017