Celtic Coinage of Britain

third edition

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V1895-01

 

History

The "Interregnum"    (Info)

 

The Trinovantian/Catuvellaunian "Interregnum" 10 B.C. – 10 A.D.

 

The term "Interregnum" is arbitrarily given to to the period between the coinages of Tasciovanus and Cunobeline. A ten to twenty year time gap has traditionally been identified between the two reigns. No explanation of the events of this period has been universally accepted, and the entire subject remains one of controversy.

 

Trinovantes/Catuvellauni

 

The period started with new inscriptions, SEGO and DIAS, added to Tasciovanus' name on the Trinovantian/Catuvellaunian coinage. As this occurred, the stater's weight was reduced from 5.60 to 5.40 grammes. About this time, a new coinage appeared with the inscription ANDOCO (generally accepted as a name). The ANDOCO staters were struck to the new lighter weight and one ANDOCO coin also had the inscription TAS. As a final complication, new coins appeared with the inscription RVIIS. Allen noted the RVIIS coins were very close in style to those of Tasciovanus (139).

Allen suggested that all these new coins filled the gap before the coinage of Cunobeline (140). In 1989, a tentative chronological order for the inscriptions was suggested using the observation that gold coins and then silver ones went out of circulation (141).

Since 1989, there have been many efforts to refine our understanding (73). The inscriptions SEGO, ANDOCO, DIAS and RVIIS have been variously suggested as personal names, epithets, titles and mint-sites. The dating and typology of the coins has also been studied. Yet to date, no single hypothesis explaining the events of the time gap has been accepted by everyone.

Allen's 1944 suggestion – to list the coins inscribed SEGO, ANDOCO, DIAS and RVIIS to a twenty year gap between Tasciovanus and Cunobeline – still remains our best explanation. Given the intense scrutiny devoted to these coins over the last 25 years, there may not be a better one. Should one emerge in the future, it will become necessary to revise our interpretation of this period.

The coins closest in style to those of Tasciovanus are those inscribed SEGO, struck in gold, silver and copper. Next, probably appeared the coins with the name ANDOCO. Andoco's staters were copied from the earliest type staters of Tasciovanus, but were struck to the lighter weight-standard of the Interregnum. Allen noted the die cutter who engraved the dies was either copying from a poorly-preserved coin or was unfamiliar with the details of the design because he blundered the bucranium above the horse (142). The coins inscribed DIAS, in silver and bronze, and finally RVIIS, only in bronze, followed.

 

Cantii

 

In Cantian territory, the coinage of Dubnovellaunus-in-Kent ceased, replaced by that of a short-lived ruler Vosenos. Soon Vosenos disappeared, and coins of an Atrebatic/Regnan/Belgic ruler, Eppillus, circulated in fairly large quantities. The Eppillus pieces carried new designs, one with a winged victory; interestingly none of these carried the Calleva mint signature.

Speculatively, some turmoil in Trinovantian/Catuvellaunian territory may have given the Cantii an opportunity to change their ruler. The Atrebates/Regni/Belgae may have then seized the opportunity to exert their influence in Kent, while the Trinovantes/Catuvellauni were preoccupied with internal problems.

 

Iceni

 

The Iceni began to strike silver coins with the inscription ANTED, and even issued a small number of gold staters with this inscription. Although the gold staters were short-lived, the inscribed silver issues endured. Evidently the Iceni gained increased independence from Trinovantian/Catuvellaunian influence, or at least received some concession during the time of trouble.

 

Atrebates/Regni/Belgae

 

In Atrebatic/Regnan/Belgic territory, Tincommius disappeared, replaced by a new ruler named Eppillus, who styled himself "REX" (king). Both Tincommius and Dubnovellaunus (probably the Kentish one) appeared in Rome about this time appealing to Augustus for aid.

By 10 A.D., the troubled period had passed and Cunobeline held the Trinovantian/Catuvellaunian throne. The coinages with the inscriptions ANDOCO, SEGO, DIAS and RVIIS ended abruptly and the Atrebatic/Regnan/Belgic coins disappeared from Kent. The Cantian coinage had come to an end with Vosenos, never to be reinstated and the coins of Cunobeline became the normal coinage of Kent from this time on. Cunobeline evidently drove the Atrebates/Regni/Belgae from Cantian territory after consolidating his rule. The Atrebates/Regni/Belgae, as the historical record shows, were subsequently placed on the defensive by the Trinovantes/Catuvellauni until the situation became serious enough to provide an excuse for Roman intervention in 43 A.D.

 

Next Section – Later Coinages – Introduction

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

V1895-01

1895 - 01    RVIIS or RVES

15 B.C.-10 A.D.      Very Rare

Bronze Unit    1.9 gms.    14 mm

 

Earliest Record: Evans, 1864

 

OBV: Inscription in tablet

Identifying points:

  1. RVIIS in tablet
  2. ring above and below
  3. bezel around edge

 

REV: Griffin left

Identifying points:

  1. exergue line below griffin
  2. three pellets below griffin

 

CLASSIFICATION: Trinovantian S

 

NOTES:

  • Some in museums
  • Mack was uncertain about the animal, better centred examples now show it to be a griffin

 

 

 

 

V1845-01

1845 - 01    SEGO

15 B.C.-10 A.D.      Extremely Rare

Gold Stater    5.40 gms.    17 mm

 

Earliest Record: Poste, 1853

 

OBV: Inscription in tablet

Identifying points:

  1. cross-in-ring motifs above and below tablet
  2. four pellets around tablet
  3. four rings around tablet
  4. TASCIO in tablet

 

REV: Celtic warrior on horse right

Identifying points:

  1. rider brandishes carnyx
  2. four-spoked wheel behind horse
  3. SEGO in front of horse

 

CLASSIFICATION: Trinovantian P

 

NOTES:

  • Most in museums
  • Standard weight given

 

 

 

 

V1877-01

1877 - 01    DIAS

15 B.C.-10 A.D.      Very Rare

Silver Unit    1.3 gms.    13 mm

 

Earliest Record: Camden, 1610 (Philemon Holland edition)

 

OBV: Inscription in tablet

Identifying points:

  1. two interlaced squares
  2. tablet with DIAS in centre
  3. letter 'C' above tablet
  4. letter 'O' below tablet

 

REV: Celticized horse left

Identifying points:

  1. curve above horse
  2. VIR below horse

 

CLASSIFICATION: Trinovantian R

 

NOTES:

  • Celtic Coin Index records now indicate commoner than previously thought
  • Some in museums
  • Verulamium mint

 

 

 

 

V1860-01

1860 - 01    ANDOCO

15 B.C.-10 A.D.      Very Rare

Gold Stater    5.40 gms.    16 mm

 

Earliest Record: Evans, 1864

 

OBV: Crossed wreaths

Identifying points:

  1. two crescents back to back
  2. four pellet-in-ring motifs near crescents
  3. wreaths extend from centre
  4. pellets, outline crescents and pellet-in-ring motifs in field
  5. two faces hidden in design

 

REV: Celticized horse right

Identifying points:

  1. blundered copy of bucranium above horse
  2. anemone above horse
  3. ANDO below and in front of horse

 

CLASSIFICATION: Trinovantian Q

 

NOTES:

  • Celtic Coin Index records now indicate commoner than previously thought
  • Standard weight given
  • Many in museums
  • Modern forgery exists, (1860 - 01F, not illustrated), also plated modern forgery struck from the same dies, (1860 - 03F, not illustrated). No genuine ancient plated version known, catalogue number 1860 - 03 reserved, if one should be found
  • A careful inspection of the plate coin reveals no trace of pellets between the back-to-back crescents on the obverse. The coin has been well-struck from sufficiently well-preserved dies to make this statement. Suggestions that all examples have pellets between the crescents are wrong.

 

 

 

 

V1890-01

1890 - 01    RVIIS or RVES

15 B.C.-10 A.D.      Scarce

Bronze Unit    2.4 gms.    15 mm

 

Earliest Record: Evans, 1890

 

OBV: Lion right

Identifying points:

  1. lion in bezel
  2. RVII or RVEI around lion

 

REV: Eagle

Identifying points:

  1. eagle stands with spread wings
  2. RVII above eagle

 

CLASSIFICATION: Trinovantian S

 

NOTES:

  • Celtic Coin Index records now indicate commoner than previously thouyght
  • Obverse adapted from a Roman denarius of Mark Anthony
  • Reverse adapted from a Roman denarius of Augustus
  • Kretz has convincingly argued all varieties of this type carry a legend RVII on the reverse

 

 

 

 

Allen 1944

 

 

 

 

Allen 1944 – see time line table

 

 

 

 

Van Arsdell 1989a

 

 

 

 

de Jersey 1998c, 2001b, 2002b, 2005b, 2005c, 2005d

Kretz 2002, 2006, 2007

 

 

 

 

Allen 1944

 

 

 

 

V185-01

185 - 01    Vosenos

10-5 B.C.      Extremely Rare

Gold Quarter Stater    11 mm    1.3 gms.

 

Earliest Record: Evans, 1864

 

OBV: Plain with pronounced bands

Identifying points:

  1. three pronounced, raised bands

 

REV: Celticized horse right

Identifying points:

  1. pellet-in-ring motif above horse's rump
  2. ring with six-pointed star above horse
  3. pellet under neck and tail
  4. inscription under horse VOSII
  5. two pellet-in-ring motifs above horse

 

CLASSIFICATION: Cantian M

 

NOTES:

  • Typical weight given

 

 

 

 

V431-01

431 - 01    Eppillus Victory Type

10 B.C.-10 A.D.      Extremely Rare

Gold Stater    5.40 gms.    18 mm

 

Earliest Record: Poste, 1846

 

OBV: Victory left

Identifying points:

  1. victory hold wreath in left hand
  2. wreath border has leaves pointing in counter-clockwise direction

 

REV: Celtic warrior on horse right

Identifying points:

  1. rider holds carnyx over his shoulder
  2. EPPI.COM below horse
  3. F above EPPI.COM

 

CLASSIFICATION: Atrebatic H

 

NOTES:

  • Standard weight given
  • Most in museums

 

 

 

 

V711-01

711 - 01    ANTED

20-35 A.D.      Common

Silver Unit    1.25 gms.    12-15 mm

 

Earliest Record: Stukeley, 1776

 

OBV: Double crescent emblem

Identifying points:

  1. as 710 - 01

 

REV: Celticized horse right

Identifying points:

  1. as 710 - 01, except for form of monogram
  2. ANTD monogram below horse

 

CLASSIFICATION: Icenian G

 

NOTES:

  • Many retained in museums

 

 

 

 

V705-01

705 - 01    ANTED

20-35 A.D.      Extremely Rare

Gold Stater    5.4 gms.    18 mm

 

Earliest Record: Evans, 1864

 

OBV: Triple-crescent pattern

Identifying points:

  1. three outline crescents in centre with points facing outwards
  2. pellet between points of adjacent points
  3. curved lines and pellets design at border

 

REV: Celticized horse right

Identifying points:

  1. anemone motif in ring above horse
  2. pellet above and below horse, and below tail
  3. ANTED monogram below horse

 

CLASSIFICATION: Icenian G

 

NOTES:

  • Only one obverse and one reverse die recorded
  • Typical weight given, this is the likely standard weight, also

 

 

 

 

V415-01

415 - 01    Eppillus

10 B.C.-10 A.D.      Scarce

Silver Unit    1.2 gms.    13 mm

 

Earliest Record: Camden, 1610 (Philemon Holland edition)

 

OBV: Crescent with inscription

Identifying points:

  1. outline crescent, points upwards, in centre
  2. REX above crescent
  3. CALLE below crescent
  4. daisy on either side of crescent
  5. pellet border

 

REV: Eagle right

Identifying points:

  1. eagle's wing spread
  2. EPP above eagle's tail
  3. pellet border

 

CLASSIFICATION: Atrebatic G

 

NOTES:

  • Many found at Wanborough
  • Mack transposed the obverse and reverse designations
  • The crescent is on the convex side and the eagle on the concave
  • Variety with obverse legend REX CALL awaits metallurgical analysis to verify authenticity
  • Catalogue number 415 - 03 reserved for the REX CALL type
  • Obverse adapted from a denarius of L. Lucretius Trio
  • Reverse adapted from a denarius of Cn. Nerius or Augustus Turpilianus
  • Celtic Coin index records indicate rarer that originally thought

 

 

 

 

This section discusses coins of the "Interregnum" – an ill-understood period around the time of the new millennium.

 

Trinovantes/Catuvellauni

  • SEGO
  • DIAS
  • ANDOCO
  • RVIIS

 

Cantii

  • Vosenos

 

Iceni

  • ANTED

 

Atrebates/Regni/Belgae

  • Eppillus

 

Copyright R. D. Van Arsdell 2017