Plate 46
Dobunni (Info)
Dobunni Coins Inscribed Bodvoc
Dobunnic C
Dobunni Gold Coins Inscribed Antedrig
Dobunnic D
Dobunni Silver Coins Inscribed Antedrig
Dobunnic D
Celtic Coinage of Britain
third edition
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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:
- plain, except for inscription
- BODVOC in centre of field
REV: Celticized horse right
Identifying points:
- tail has three strands with pellets
- eight-spoked wheel with axle below horse
- two pellet in ring motifs, a crescent and a small 'X' above horse
- three large pellets below tail
- 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
1057 - 01 Bodvoc
15-10 B.C. Very Rare
Silver Unit ca. 1.05 gms. 12 mm
Earliest Record: Smith 1848, Collectanea Antigua, vol. 1, p. 181
OBV: Celticized head left
Identifying points:
- BODVOC in front of head
REV: Celticized horse right
Identifying points:
- pellet in ring motif above horse
- tail has single strand
- pellet in ring motif, all in a ring of pellets below horse
CLASSIFICATION: Dobunnic C
NOTES:
- Weight given is typical, standard weight is not yet identified
- Many in museums
- Celtic Coin Index now indicates commoner than previously thought
- Modern forgery exists – (see 1057 - 01F)
- Obverse possibly adapted from a bronze of Tasciovanus – (see 1790 - 01)
- Reverse probably adapted from gold quarter stater of Tasciovanus – (see 1660 - 01)
- BODVOC is a fairly common Celtic name
1062 - 01 Anted Monogram Type
10 B.C.-10 A.D. Exetremely Rare
Gold Stater 5.40 gms. 17 mm
Earliest Record: Evans, 1890
OBV: Dobunnic Emblem
Identifying points:
- emblem made up of tree-like object with ten branches
- ring at bottom of emblem
REV: Celticized horse right
Identifying points:
- tail has three strands with pellets
- ANTED monogram above horse
- "RIG", found on other staters of ANTEDRIG probably missing on this type
- wheel, probably with six spokes below horse
- crescent above horse
- elliptical ear is spread open at top
CLASSIFICATION: Dobunnic D
NOTES:
- Ring at bottom of emblem, as found on uninscribed staters poses dating problems – this type is possibly earlier than indicated, or this particular coin is not part of the ANTEDRIG series
- The style of the coin is unusual, possibly not a product of the official mint
- Recorded example in BM
- Weight given is that of one recorded example
1066 - 01 Antedrig
10 B.C.-10 A.D. Very Rare
Gold Stater 5.50 gms. 19 mm
Earliest Record: Camden, 1610 (Philemon Holland edition)
OBV: Dobunnic Emblem
Identifying points:
- Emblem made up of tree-like object with ten branches
REV: Celticized horse right
Identifying points:
- tail has three strands with pellets
- elliptical ear
- six-spoked wheel below horse
- "V" form below tail
- ANTED above horse "D" is in form of Greek theta
- RIG in front of horse and around front legs
CLASSIFICATION: Dobunnic D
NOTES:
- Standard Weight given
- Some in museums
- RIG is traditionally considered the title "King"
- Modern forgery exists – (see 1066 - 01F)
1066 - 03 Antedrig
10 B.C.-10 A.D. Extremely Rare
Gold Stater 5.50 gms. 19 mm
Earliest Record: Allen, 1961
OBV: Dobunnic Emblem
Identifying points:
- as 1066 - 01
REV: Celticized horse right
Identifying points:
- as 1066 - 01, but legend reads ANED, without the letter T
CLASSIFICATION: Dobunnic D
NOTES:
- Standard Weight given
- Most in museums
- RIG is traditionally considered the title "King"
1069 - 01 Antedrig
10 B.C.–10 A.D. Rare
Gold Stater 5.50 gms. 19 mm
Earliest Record: Allen, 1961
OBV: Dobunnic Emblem
Identifying points:
- as 1066 - 01
REV: Celticized horse right
Identifying points:
- as 1066 - 01
- ANTED has "D" in Roman letter form
CLASSIFICATION : Dobunnic D
NOTES:
- Standard Weight given
- Celtic Coin Index now indicates commoner than previously thought
- Some in museums
1069 - 01 Antedrig
10 B.C.–10 A.D. Rare
Gold Stater 5.50 gms. 19 mm
Earliest Record: Allen, 1961
OBV: Dobunnic Emblem
Identifying points:
- as 1066 - 01
REV: Celticized horse right
Identifying points:
- as 1066 - 01
- ANTED has "D" in Roman letter form
CLASSIFICATION : Dobunnic D
NOTES:
- Standard Weight given
- Celtic Coin Index now indicates commoner than previously thought
- Some in museums
1074 - 01 Antedrig Head Type
10 B.C.-10 A.D. Scarce
Silver Unit ca. 1.15 gms. 13 mm
Earliest Record: Evans, 1864
OBV: Celticized head right
Identifying points:
- Head more stylized than on Corio Head Type
- face has O-X-O pattern made up of two pellet in ring motifs with an "X" in between
- Hair made up of triple pellets, but pellets are smaller than on Corio Head Type
REV: Celticized horse left
Identifying points:
- triple stranded tail
- pellet in ring motif behind and in front of horse
- bird head above horse is very stylized, has crescent below it
- flower below horse
- two pellets above tail
CLASSIFICATION: Dobunnic D
NOTES:
- Typical weight given, standard weight is not yet identified
- Celtic Coin Index reevaluation for this type now indicates rarer than previously thought
- Some in museums
- Modern forgery exists, (see 1074 - 01F)
- Allen Class E
1078 - 01 Antedrig Head Type
10 B.C.-10 A.D. Common
Silver Unit ca. 1.15 gms. 13 mm
Earliest Record: Evans, 1864
OBV: Celticized head right
Identifying points:
- as 1074 - 01
- two pellet in ring motifs in front of face
REV: Celticized horse left
Identifying points:
- as 1074 - 01
- bird head above horse has small "X" below it instead of crescent
- single pellet above tail
ClASSIFICATION.: Dobunnic D
NOTES:
- Typical weight, standard weight is not yet identified
- Modern forgery exists – (see 1078 - 01F)
- Allen Class F
1082 - 01 Antedrig
10 B.C.–10 A.D. Very Rare
Silver Unit ca. 1.15 gms. 15 mm
Earliest Record: Evans, 1864
OBV: Celticized head right
Identifying points:
- as 1078 - 01
REV: Celticized horse left
Identifying points:
- as 1078 - 01
- AN below horse
- TED above horse "D" in form of Greek letter theta
CLASSIFICATION: Dobunnic D
NOTES:
- Typical weight given, standard weight is not yet identified
- Some in museums
- Allen Class G
1085 - 01 Antedrig
10 B.C.–10 A.D. Very Rare
Silver Unit ca. 1.15 gms. 13 mm
Earliest Record: Allen, 1961 (Nunney Hoard, 1860)
OBV: Celticized head right
Identifying points:
- as 1078 - 01
REV: Celticized horse left
Identifying points:
- as 1082 - 01
- "D" in form of Roman letter
CLASSIFICATION: Dobunnic D
NOTES:
- Typical weight given, standard weight is not yet identified
- Some in museums
The Coinage of the Dobunni
The Dobunni occupied Gloucestershire and Avon, parts of Hereford and Worcestershire, Somerset, Oxfordshire and Wiltshire. Their coinage comprises a small number of gold coins, mostly inscribed, and an extensive series of silver units, largely without inscriptions.
The gold staters are almost identical in appearance, making it difficult to organize and date them. The following catalogue lists them in order according to their weight and metallic content. The Dobunni gradually reduced the weight and gold content of the staters, and this reveals the chronological sequence. This dating sequence was first proposed in the 1989 edition of Celtic Coinage of Britain.
An analysis of the intrinsic value of the staters gives the chronological order of the inscriptions. This is, in order of decreasing standard weight and gold content: CORIO, BODVOC, ANTEDRIG, COMUX, EISV and CATTI. CORIO and BODVOC's staters contain a standard 2.6 grammes of fine gold. This drops to 2.3 grammes for ANTEDRIG and COMUX, and finally to 2.2 grammes for EISV and CATTI. Metrologically and metallurgically, the Dobunnic coinage suffered the same debasement as the coins of the other British tribes. It seems, the Dobunni were under the same pressures to devalue their coinage.
The silver coins are related to the gold issues by the objects in the fields. Those near the horse's tail seem to give the best indicators as to ruler-of-origin m many cases. Three types are inscribed and carry the names BODVOC, ANTED and EISV. The units inscribed ANTED and EISV are accompanied by uninscribed coins of a similar type.
Three clues provide fixed points to construct an absolute chronology for the coinage, as a whole. First, the silver units of BODVOC typologically date to the end of the First Century B.C. The horse on the reverse is a mirror-image of one on a quarter stater of Tasciovanus-—the die cutters may have simply copied it directly onto their dies. Similarly, a Tasciovanus bronze may supply the prototype for the obverse, again in mirror-image. Previously, workers have dated BODVOC's coinage last because of the legend on the stater. The lettering need not be dated mid-First Century A.D., because similar letters do appear on earlier coins. Generally, BODVOC's coinage should be dated about the end of Tasciovanus' reign.
The second clue is the dramatic reduction in the gold content for ANTEDRIG, probably a reaction to the events of the Trinovantian/Catuvellaunian Interregnum. When the other tribes reduced the intrinsic value of their staters, the Dobunni reacted by debasing the gold content.
Finally, the Dobunnic coinage would have come to an end during the middle of the 40's A.D., as the Romans overran the Dobunnic territory. The plated stater with the blundered legend "INAM"' probably dates from this disturbed time.
Using the chronology of the gold staters, the following interpretation of the Dobunnic coinage is suggested. During the Gallic War, contacts with the Dobunni were organized by the Atrebates/Regni to obtain war materiel, perhaps iron, for the Continental trade. Atrebatic Abstract Type staters are found in Dobunnic territory attesting to the trade. After the war, the tribe eventually felt the need to produce its own coins, and uninscribed gold and silver pieces were first struck about 35 B.C.
The Atrebates/Regni and Trinovantes/Catuvellauni were already striking inscribed coins by this time. The Dobunni quickly followed their lead, adding the name CORIO to their staters, around 30 B.C. Later, at the end of Tasciovanus' reign, BODVOC succeeded CORIO. He removed the Dobunnic emblem from the staters and emblazoned his name across the field. He also changed the silver coins as well, by placing a more life-like head on the obverses.
BODVOC soon disappeared during the Trinovantian/Catuvellaunian Interregnum, replaced by ANTEDRIG. The Dobunnic emblem was immediately restored to the staters and it was maintained by all subsequent rulers. Possibly, BODVOC's removal of the emblem had been an unpopular change. A series of inscriptions occurs after ANTEDRIG, COMUX, EISV, and CATTI – leading up to the Claudian invasion, when the coinage ends.
This chronological sequence, derived from metallurgy and metrology, is unlike that proposed by earlier scholars. Consequently, it must be viewed as a hypothesis, not proven fact. Normally in a catalogue such as this, the traditionally accepted chronologies would be used, but those proposed by Allen over twenty-five years ago are clearly unworkable today. Because the chronological interpretation here is greatly different from Allen's, the reasons for the change should be discussed.
There are two problems with Allen's interpretations. The first is the order of the inscriptions – it requires the staters to increase in intrinsic value. This is unlikely because the neighbouring tribes were reducing the value of their coins. Secondly, there is inadequate pairing of the silver units with the gold staters. The tribe used silver coins extensively and probably there were silver coins corresponding to each of the gold types.
Hoard analysis has supplied the dating evidence for many tribal coinages, the best example is the relative dating of the Icenian silver. Unfortunately, the small number of Dobunnic hoards has hampered study here since most Dobunnic coins have been single finds. Two hoards contained coins of ANTEDRIG, EISV and CATTI, and one of them had uninscribed silver as well. This does not provide much information to construct a relative chronology.
A historical retrospective points out some additional areas of controversy. Evans, in 1864, identified the BODVOC staters as heavier than the rest and accordingly dated them earliest. Evans' argument – heavier coins are earlier – should not be taken so lightly. Additional coins have come to light since Evans wrote, so the BODVOC staters are no longer the heaviest.
The Interregnum dating for ANTEDRlG's coinage places him roughly at the time of ANTED of the Iceni. Evans' assertion – the coinages of ANTEDRIG and the Icenian ANTED represented the unified output of a single ruler – should be reconsidered.
Brooke, in 1933, gave a list with ANTEDRIG first and BODVOC last, but offered no explanation, leaving it to Allen to supply the missing interpretation. The coins seemed to have different findspot distributions, Allen noted, offering this as evidence for paired rulers in sequence: ANTEDRIG/EISV first and CORIO/BODVOC last. The inscribed silver coins of ANTEDRIG and EISV were almost identical to some stylistically late uninscribed types, but BODVOC's inscriptions looked Roman. Thus, Allen argued, ANTEDRIG and EISV must be first, BODVOC last. He placed CATTI and COMUX in between these, unpaired.
The argument for paired rulers is tenuous today; additional findspots have been added to the maps and the distributions now show no statistically valid differences. This is particularly true for CORIO and BODVOC, the two rulers whose coinages previously had shown a good example of mutual exclusivity.
A final problem is posed by a small number of uninscribed silver coins, described by Allen as the IRREGULAR SERIES. These have an unusual style that does not fit in well with the rest of the Dobunnic silver. Previously, the coins had been found only in Wiltshire, and a separate tribal group had been suggested as its source. Today, while still unusual, the coins cannot be seen as coming solely from Wiltshire, because recent finds have come from Gloucestershire. The distribution may ultimately be similar to the rest of the Dobunnic coinage. The irregular series may indeed be local issues, but there is no strong evidence they come from a separate tribe or sub group.
The arrangement of the catalogue is as follows: The early uninscribed coins are listed first. The Dobunni evidently used Atrebatic/Regnan coins after the Gallic War, striking their own for the first time around 35 B.C. Then the series of inscribed coins is given, using the order suggested by the metrology and metallurgy. The later uninscribed silver types are listed under the most likely ruler, based on stylistic similarities.
Allen's system of naming the silver coins by classes has been retained for the type nomenclature because it is still a useful guide to the typology. New classifications have been given, however, linking the gold and silver issues.
The site of a Dobunnic mint has been found at Bagendon, a large oppidum near Cirencester. Clay "coin-moulds", two pairs of tongs, a bronze ladle and a clay spoon for handling molten metal were found on the site during archaeological excavations. Several bronze lumps were found, which appeared to be the remains of coin dies. Of interest was a number of plated forgeries of Dobunnic coins found in the vicinity. The mint could have been turning out plated coins, or alternatively the finds represent coins taken to the mint for authentication, only to be discarded when the forgery was exposed by the mint workers.