From a collection over 30 years in the making, covering the whole range of Ancient British coinage, and including many ABC/Spink plate coins, this collector, exercising careful and methodical selection bought only the best pieces, helped by long-term acquisition during the ‘golden years’, when new discoveries were plentiful. This shows in the overall quality and completeness of the collection.

Whether gleaming, impressive gold staters or intricately cut silver units bearing the only surviving portraits from Britain’s ancient past are your thing, this collection has all that and more in abundance.

For more information and to view coins available now visit:

The London Collection – Silbury Coins : Silbury Coins

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Thurrock MA Cast Bronze Unit

Head of Apollo left/Butting bull left

ABC120; 17mm, 3.64g

Provenance

This coin is from The London Collection of Ancient British Coins. For more information click here: The London Collection – Silbury Coins : Silbury Coins.

M Vosper FPL 107, no 14 1999 VA 1410-1

This coin comes with a previous label.

Cantiaci

 ‘Of all the Britons the inhabitants of Kent, an entirely maritime district, are by far the most civilised, differing but little from the Gallic manner of life.’

Caesar, De Bello Gallico, book V, chapter 13.

The modern county of Kent was, according to the Romans, the homeland of the Cantiaci or Cantii. The closest portion of mainland Britain to the Continent, it is unsurprising that in the Late Iron Age the region boasted strong links with north-east France – a legacy maintained to this day, one could argue, with the continued importance of Dover and Folkestone as key cross-channel ferry ports.

Kent’s earliest Iron Age coins (and indeed, probably the earliest indigenously-produced British coins) are represented by cast bronze pieces called potins, whose alloy has a high tin content. On the basis of single finds and hoards, we know that imported gold in the form of Gallo-Belgic coinage was widely used in Kent at around the same time as the potins.

The somewhat mysterious series of uninscribed Kentish gold, including the so-called ‘Weald Net’ staters (ABC 177/BMC 2466) and ‘Corded Triangle’ quarter staters (ABC 198/BMC 2469–71) were probably struck c. 50–30/25 BC, they perhaps slightly precede a diverse group of uninscribed silver and bronze issues.

Inscribed issues belong towards the end of the Kentish coin-sequence, as is invariably the general case in Late Iron Age Britain. Their production probably began from c. 25 BC onwards and runs onward till shortly before the Claudian invasion. It is worth noting that at this time, Kent seems to have been taken over to varying extents by rulers from neighbouring regions. These rulers in turn came to issue coins in the region, even though they themselves might not originate from it, nor it reflect their main power-base.

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Curved Bull Cast Bronze Unit

Outline head left/Outline bull right

ABC150; 18mm, 1.30g

Provenance

This coin is from The London Collection of Ancient British Coins. For more information click here: The London Collection – Silbury Coins : Silbury Coins.

M Vosper, 1997 VA 125-3/125-1

This coin comes with a previous label.

Cantiaci

 ‘Of all the Britons the inhabitants of Kent, an entirely maritime district, are by far the most civilised, differing but little from the Gallic manner of life.’

Caesar, De Bello Gallico, book V, chapter 13.

The modern county of Kent was, according to the Romans, the homeland of the Cantiaci or Cantii. The closest portion of mainland Britain to the Continent, it is unsurprising that in the Late Iron Age the region boasted strong links with north-east France – a legacy maintained to this day, one could argue, with the continued importance of Dover and Folkestone as key cross-channel ferry ports.

Kent’s earliest Iron Age coins (and indeed, probably the earliest indigenously-produced British coins) are represented by cast bronze pieces called potins, whose alloy has a high tin content. On the basis of single finds and hoards, we know that imported gold in the form of Gallo-Belgic coinage was widely used in Kent at around the same time as the potins.

The somewhat mysterious series of uninscribed Kentish gold, including the so-called ‘Weald Net’ staters (ABC 177/BMC 2466) and ‘Corded Triangle’ quarter staters (ABC 198/BMC 2469–71) were probably struck c. 50–30/25 BC, they perhaps slightly precede a diverse group of uninscribed silver and bronze issues.

Inscribed issues belong towards the end of the Kentish coin-sequence, as is invariably the general case in Late Iron Age Britain. Their production probably began from c. 25 BC onwards and runs onward till shortly before the Claudian invasion. It is worth noting that at this time, Kent seems to have been taken over to varying extents by rulers from neighbouring regions. These rulers in turn came to issue coins in the region, even though they themselves might not originate from it, nor it reflect their main power-base.

The post Cantiaci 3rd-1st Century BC Curved Bull Cast Bronze Unit appeared first on Silbury Coins.

Curved Bull Cast Bronze Unit

Outline head left/Outline bull mostly of curved lines left

ABC165; 18mm, 1.93g

Provenance

This coin is from The London Collection of Ancient British Coins. For more information click here: The London Collection – Silbury Coins : Silbury Coins.

Timeline auctions 14.02.2015, lot 1573 VA 108-3

This coin comes with a previous label.

Cantiaci

 ‘Of all the Britons the inhabitants of Kent, an entirely maritime district, are by far the most civilised, differing but little from the Gallic manner of life.’

Caesar, De Bello Gallico, book V, chapter 13.

The modern county of Kent was, according to the Romans, the homeland of the Cantiaci or Cantii. The closest portion of mainland Britain to the Continent, it is unsurprising that in the Late Iron Age the region boasted strong links with north-east France – a legacy maintained to this day, one could argue, with the continued importance of Dover and Folkestone as key cross-channel ferry ports.

Kent’s earliest Iron Age coins (and indeed, probably the earliest indigenously-produced British coins) are represented by cast bronze pieces called potins, whose alloy has a high tin content. On the basis of single finds and hoards, we know that imported gold in the form of Gallo-Belgic coinage was widely used in Kent at around the same time as the potins.

The somewhat mysterious series of uninscribed Kentish gold, including the so-called ‘Weald Net’ staters (ABC 177/BMC 2466) and ‘Corded Triangle’ quarter staters (ABC 198/BMC 2469–71) were probably struck c. 50–30/25 BC, they perhaps slightly precede a diverse group of uninscribed silver and bronze issues.

Inscribed issues belong towards the end of the Kentish coin-sequence, as is invariably the general case in Late Iron Age Britain. Their production probably began from c. 25 BC onwards and runs onward till shortly before the Claudian invasion. It is worth noting that at this time, Kent seems to have been taken over to varying extents by rulers from neighbouring regions. These rulers in turn came to issue coins in the region, even though they themselves might not originate from it, nor it reflect their main power-base.

The post Cantiaci 3rd-1st Century BC Curved Bull Cast Bronze Unit appeared first on Silbury Coins.

Winged beast right, griffin?/Horse left, right foreleg raised. DVBNO above

Very Rare

ABC321; 13mm, 1.17g

Provenance

This coin is from The London Collection of Ancient British Coins. For more information click here: The London Collection – Silbury Coins : Silbury Coins.

Charlie Brown, Aug 2003,  VA 171-1

This coin comes with a previous label.

Dubnovellaunos (25 BC – AD 5/10?)

Based on current evidence, it seems to be the case that Dubnovellaunos is the earliest individual to be named on Kentish coinage of the Late Iron Age. It has been suggested that he was the ‘Dumnobellaunos’ named in the 32nd passage of Augustus’ Res Gestae, although this is not certain. Other individuals named ‘Dumnovellaunos’ are present in the Late Iron Age coin series from other regions of Britain (e.g., the north-east), and indeed it may be a completely different individually totally unconnected with the issuance of these coins.

‘The following kings sought refuge with me as suppliants…Dumnobellaunus and Tincommius, kings of the Britons….’

 It has been hotly debated as to whether the Dubnovellaunos issuing coinage in Kent is the same as that who produced a relatively restricted, trimetallic series of coins whose distribution centres on Essex. As Kent and Essex share a land border, it is perfectly plausible from a geographic perspective to suggest that Dubnovellaunos may well have been a ruler in Kent who chose to extend his territory and influence northwards. It is certainly true that that the Kentish series of coins struck in his name are much more extensive than those found in Essex, which might suggest an origin in the former rather than the latter. Nevertheless, whatever his affiliation, Dubnovellaunos was out of the picture soon after the commencement of the 1st century AD – his territories potentially absorbed by Eppilus of the Atrebates and the much better-known Cunobelin of the Catavellaunii.

Coins of Dubnovellaunos struck in Kent are the most extensive of the inscribed series to be struck there, including some of the most iconic inscribed silver units in the entire Late Iron Age corpus. These include types such as the ‘Dubnovellaunos Pegasus’ (ABC 315/BMC 2443–44) and ‘Dubnovellaunos Metalworker’ (ABC 324/BMC 2502–3).

The post Cantiaci Dubnovellaunos c.25 BC-AD 5 Winged Beast Silver Unit *Very Rare* appeared first on Silbury Coins.

Boar left with tree behind/Horse stepping right, pentagram below

Extremely Rare

ABC285; 15mm, 1.46g

Provenance

This coin is from The London Collection of Ancient British Coins. For more information click here: The London Collection – Silbury Coins : Silbury Coins.

Spink PT, VA 167

This coin comes with a previous label.

Dubnovellaunos (25 BC – AD 5/10?)

Based on current evidence, it seems to be the case that Dubnovellaunos is the earliest individual to be named on Kentish coinage of the Late Iron Age. It has been suggested that he was the ‘Dumnobellaunos’ named in the 32nd passage of Augustus’ Res Gestae, although this is not certain. Other individuals named ‘Dumnovellaunos’ are present in the Late Iron Age coin series from other regions of Britain (e.g., the north-east), and indeed it may be a completely different individually totally unconnected with the issuance of these coins.

‘The following kings sought refuge with me as suppliants…Dumnobellaunus and Tincommius, kings of the Britons….’

 It has been hotly debated as to whether the Dubnovellaunos issuing coinage in Kent is the same as that who produced a relatively restricted, trimetallic series of coins whose distribution centres on Essex. As Kent and Essex share a land border, it is perfectly plausible from a geographic perspective to suggest that Dubnovellaunos may well have been a ruler in Kent who chose to extend his territory and influence northwards. It is certainly true that that the Kentish series of coins struck in his name are much more extensive than those found in Essex, which might suggest an origin in the former rather than the latter. Nevertheless, whatever his affiliation, Dubnovellaunos was out of the picture soon after the commencement of the 1st century AD – his territories potentially absorbed by Eppilus of the Atrebates and the much better-known Cunobelin of the Catavellaunii.

Coins of Dubnovellaunos struck in Kent are the most extensive of the inscribed series to be struck there, including some of the most iconic inscribed silver units in the entire Late Iron Age corpus. These include types such as the ‘Dubnovellaunos Pegasus’ (ABC 315/BMC 2443–44) and ‘Dubnovellaunos Metalworker’ (ABC 324/BMC 2502–3).

The post Cantiaci Dubnovellaunos c. 25 BC-AD 5 Boar Horse Bronze Unit *Extremely Rare* appeared first on Silbury Coins.

Head right, VIR to front, FO behind/Capricorn left, EPPI above and COMF below

Extremely Rare

ABC435; 15mm, 1.26g

View Video Here

Provenance

This coin is from The London Collection of Ancient British Coins. For more information click here: The London Collection – Silbury Coins : Silbury Coins.

C Rudd FPL 68, no 16. CCI 03.0080 ex Cotswold collection VA 443

This coin comes with a previous label.

Verica (AD 10–20)

Perhaps the best-known ‘son of Commios’, Verica appears to have been a contemporary of Cunobelin. His rule appears to have been relatively lengthy, although towards its late stages we begin to see evidence of instability – perhaps stimulated by the rise of Trinovantian-affiliated rulers such as Epatticus and Caractacus. Much like his predecessors Tincomarus and Epilllus, he struck only coins of gold and silver – with none of bronze currently known. From a stylistic point of view, some of his coins demonstrate continuity with earlier types, such as the ‘Verica Warrior Rex’ gold staters (ABC 1190/BMC 1146–58). These, depicting ‘COM F’ in a rectangular tablet on the obverse and a mounted warrior on the reverse, are virtually identical to the ‘Tincomarus Warrior’ types. Other issues of Verica represent the apogee of Classical influence upon Late Iron Age coinage. Motifs such as vine leaves, cornucopiae, ships prows, wine cups, shrines and sphinxes are all evidenced, with particularly diverse iconography to be found on his unusually extensive series of silver minims. Such images attest to the growing influence of Rome and the extent to which Classical art was beginning to permeate Iron Age Britain at multiple levels.

Like Tincomarus, we find Verica in Roman sources – the 3rd century historian Dio Cassius relating as follows in his Roman History:

‘Aulus Plautius…led a campaign against Britain, for a certain Bericus, who had been driven from the island as a result of an uprising, had persuaded Claudius to send a force there’ (Book LX, chapter 19).

On the basis of this, one could make the amusing observation that the Claudian invasion of Britain and institution of Britannia as a Roman province was at least partially stimulated by the efforts of a disgruntled Iron Age exile.

The post Cantiaci Verica c. AD 10-20 Capricorn Silver Unit *Extremely Rare* appeared first on Silbury Coins.

Plain/Horse left, corded triangle above and cross hatched net below

Rare

ABC198; 13mm, 1.29g

Struck on a large flan showing good detail.

Provenance

This coin is from The London Collection of Ancient British Coins. For more information click here: The London Collection – Silbury Coins : Silbury Coins.

M Vosper, FPL 80, lot 94. Found Rochester, Kent. VA 151

This coin comes with a previous label.

Cantiaci

 ‘Of all the Britons the inhabitants of Kent, an entirely maritime district, are by far the most civilised, differing but little from the Gallic manner of life.’

Caesar, De Bello Gallico, book V, chapter 13.

The modern county of Kent was, according to the Romans, the homeland of the Cantiaci or Cantii. The closest portion of mainland Britain to the Continent, it is unsurprising that in the Late Iron Age the region boasted strong links with north-east France – a legacy maintained to this day, one could argue, with the continued importance of Dover and Folkestone as key cross-channel ferry ports.

Kent’s earliest Iron Age coins (and indeed, probably the earliest indigenously-produced British coins) are represented by cast bronze pieces called potins, whose alloy has a high tin content. On the basis of single finds and hoards, we know that imported gold in the form of Gallo-Belgic coinage was widely used in Kent at around the same time as the potins.

The somewhat mysterious series of uninscribed Kentish gold, including the so-called ‘Weald Net’ staters (ABC 177/BMC 2466) and ‘Corded Triangle’ quarter staters (ABC 198/BMC 2469–71) were probably struck c. 50–30/25 BC, they perhaps slightly precede a diverse group of uninscribed silver and bronze issues.

Inscribed issues belong towards the end of the Kentish coin-sequence, as is invariably the general case in Late Iron Age Britain. Their production probably began from c. 25 BC onwards and runs onward till shortly before the Claudian invasion. It is worth noting that at this time, Kent seems to have been taken over to varying extents by rulers from neighbouring regions. These rulers in turn came to issue coins in the region, even though they themselves might not originate from it, nor it reflect their main power-base.

The post Cantiaci 1st Century BC Corded Triangle Gold Quarter Stater *Rare* appeared first on Silbury Coins.

Butting bull right, EPPIL above, COF below/Spread eagle standing, head right

Rare

ABC411; 15mm, 1.92g

Provenance

This coin is from The London Collection of Ancient British Coins. For more information click here: The London Collection – Silbury Coins : Silbury Coins.

Liz’s List 15, no 24. ex William Heard collection VA 451

This coin comes with a previous label.

Eppillus AD 1-15

The second Atrebatic ruler to proclaim ‘COM F’ on his coins, Eppillus’ issues can be divided into two broad categories – those produced at the tribal civitas of Calleva (the imaginatively named ‘Calleva types’), and those seemingly struck in Kent (the equally imaginative ‘Kentish types’). On the basis of this, it is highly probable that Eppillus held some kind of influence either over or in Kent – although whether this was economic, territorial or military in nature is uncertain. Coin evidence does a lot of the heavy lifting in informing about his rule, as he is otherwise completely unknown to the historical record. His status as a king, or at least his desire to see himself portrayed as one, is revealed by one of his silver unit types – where the inscription ‘REX CALLE’ prominently appears (ABC 1160/BMC 1016–60). Robert van Arsdell theorised that Eppillus’ disappearance from the record might have arisen as a consequence of Cunobelin’s rise to power, suggesting that he was killed when the Trinovantes and Catavellaunii directed their territorial ambitions southwards into Kent.

The post Cantiaci Eppillus c.AD 1-15 Bull and Eagle Bronze Unit *Rare* appeared first on Silbury Coins.

Thurrock MA Cast Bronze Unit

Head of Apollo left/Butting bull right

ABC120; 17mm, 4.29g

Provenance

This coin is from The London Collection of Ancient British Coins. For more information click here: The London Collection – Silbury Coins : Silbury Coins.

SNC, April 1995, lot 1621, Found Medway, Kent 1994 VA 102-1

This coin comes with a previous label.

Cantiaci

 ‘Of all the Britons the inhabitants of Kent, an entirely maritime district, are by far the most civilised, differing but little from the Gallic manner of life.’

Caesar, De Bello Gallico, book V, chapter 13.

The modern county of Kent was, according to the Romans, the homeland of the Cantiaci or Cantii. The closest portion of mainland Britain to the Continent, it is unsurprising that in the Late Iron Age the region boasted strong links with north-east France – a legacy maintained to this day, one could argue, with the continued importance of Dover and Folkestone as key cross-channel ferry ports.

Kent’s earliest Iron Age coins (and indeed, probably the earliest indigenously-produced British coins) are represented by cast bronze pieces called potins, whose alloy has a high tin content. On the basis of single finds and hoards, we know that imported gold in the form of Gallo-Belgic coinage was widely used in Kent at around the same time as the potins.

The somewhat mysterious series of uninscribed Kentish gold, including the so-called ‘Weald Net’ staters (ABC 177/BMC 2466) and ‘Corded Triangle’ quarter staters (ABC 198/BMC 2469–71) were probably struck c. 50–30/25 BC, they perhaps slightly precede a diverse group of uninscribed silver and bronze issues.

Inscribed issues belong towards the end of the Kentish coin-sequence, as is invariably the general case in Late Iron Age Britain. Their production probably began from c. 25 BC onwards and runs onward till shortly before the Claudian invasion. It is worth noting that at this time, Kent seems to have been taken over to varying extents by rulers from neighbouring regions. These rulers in turn came to issue coins in the region, even though they themselves might not originate from it, nor it reflect their main power-base.

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