3rd / Florin Issue

London

S1562; 11mm, 0.31g

Son of Edward II, Edward III is another great warrior king of The Middle Ages and is most famous for his campaigns in France and the great English victories at Sluys, Crecy and Poitiers at the start of the Hundred Years War. A campaign against the Scots at the start of his reign was unsuccessful however when Edward dismissed his chief minister, Roger Mortimer, he agreed a truce before taking up arms against France. The English won a naval victory at Sluys in AD 1340 which gave them control of the Channel. Landing an army in France Edward beat the French at Crecy capturing Calais. Ten years later his son Edward, The Black Prince, won an impressive victory at Poitiers thanks in part to the effectiveness of the English longbows. The Treaty of Bretigny in AD 1360 granted Edward additional territory in France although he also renounced his claim to the French throne. There was then a lull in the war and as Edward became older he became more lethargic leaving most of the campaigning to his sons
Edward’s reign saw the devastation of England’s population as well as those of most other European countries. Edward instigated various Legal reforms but is better known for his creation of various orders of chivalry which include the Order of the Garter. Chaucer’s Canterbury Tales were also written towards the end of his reign.
The Groat was reintroduced during Edward’s reign together the first issue of gold coinage. Firstly the florin or leopard followed by the noble. In Ireland there was a small issue of silver halfpennies however there was a large issue of Anglo Gallic coins both in Edward’s name and also his son the Black Prince.

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Crowned bust right, longer and curly hair/ Shield

mm. lis

S2668; 30mm, 5.91g

The son of Mary Queen of Scots, James acceded the Scottish throne as James VI when only 1 year old upon his mother’s abdication in AD 1567. He married Anne of Denmark and upon the death of the childless Elizabeth succeeded the English throne in AD 1603 being the nearest heir. Following the Gunpowder plot of AD 1605 James brought in severe sanctions against Catholics and also introduced the King James Bible. Scotland remained a separate kingdom and retained its own currency James established a currency of similar weight and fineness in both realms although a 12:1 ratio between Scottish and English denominations was maintained.

The reign saw a number of reforms in the English coinage most notably the introduction of the gold Unite, itself replaced in AD 1619 by the Laurel. Copper coins were also issued for the first time when a licence was issued to Lord Harrington to issue farthings.

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Bare headed bust left/Voided long cross

Leofstan, York

S1151; 19mm, 1.64g

Comes with previous collectors printed label

Æthelred II ‘The Unready’ – 978-1013/1014-1016: The eldest son of Eadgar, Æthelred became king at the mere age of 12 following the brutal murder of his half-brother Edward. Young and easy to manipulate, he came to depend on his councillors for their prudent advice – an aspect in which they badly let him down. Though his reign is noted for its economic reforms and a high standard for the English coinage, it was marred by Scandinavian raids, periods of acute social instability and famine. Initially adopting a policy of paying the invaders to go away, Æthelred abruptly U-turned in 1002 and massacred many ethnic Danes resident in England. This policy backfired spectacularly, actually causing more Scandinavians to take up arms against him. Displaced from the throne in 1013 by Swein Forkbeard, he briefly returned to rule for a second time in 1014 after the latter’s untimely death – only to die himself shortly afterwards.

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Bust of Athena right / Owl standing left

24mm, 17.10g

Obverse description: Head of Athena (goddess of wisdom) right, wearing earring, necklace and crested Attic helmet decorated with olive leaves.
Reverse description: Owl standing right, head facing, closed tail feathers; olive sprig and crescent to left, AOE to right; all within incuse square.

Attica is a historical region of Greece that encompasses the city of Athens. It is a peninsula projecting into the Aegean Sea, bordering on Boeotia to the north and Megaris to the west.

The Athenian ‘owl’ silver tetradrachm is one of the most influential coins of all time. During the 5th Century BC, when Athens emerged as the greatest of all Greek cities ‘owls’ were the most widely used international coin and helped spread Greek culture throughout the Mediterranean world. The peak of Athens success, between 510-400 BC, witnessed the birth of democracy, construction of the Parthenon, pinnacle of Classical art and the origins of Western literature. Never before or since has one city contributed so much to human progress.

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The Twelve Caesars

RCV1900; 18mm, 3.37g

Comes with rough find area provenance

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Figure standing holding scales. FIDE M MILITVM AV

20mm, 4.29g

Carausius (Usurper) AD 286-293

The Roman Empire degenerated into crisis and chaos from around AD 235 as the economy floundered and the rule of law broke down. For five decades there was a succession of emperors, usurpers and rebels most of whom were short lived and many of whom were assassinated. Inflation in the empire was rampant. The currency was debased with most of the silver coinage being replaced with bronze. The empire also faced several serious external threats.

In AD 284, whilst travelling back from Persia the emperor Numerian died unexpectedly. The soldiers accompanying the emperor proclaimed their commander, Diocletian, as the new emperor.

Diocletian instituted major reforms to try and save the empire. Since the time of Augustus the emperor had been deemed to be all powerful. By greatly increasing the number of provinces and delegating power down to their governors Diocletian instigated a more collegiate form of government. He also appointed a colleague, Maximian, a co emperor to help him administer the empire. Later this was increased to four thus creating a Tetrarchy.

Little is known of Carausius’ early life although he was of humble birth and was probably a native of Menapia, in modern day Belgium. Carausius chose a military career and by the mid AD 280’s had risen to high command.  He appears to have rendered Maximian valuable service by helping put down a revolt by the Bagaudae in Gaul. Following the appointment of Maximian as co emperor in AD 286 Carausius was appointed commander of the Channel Fleet based at Boulogne. Carausius saw this as an opportunity for enrichment by taking booty from the Saxon and Frankish pirates after they had raided rather than preventing the raids in the first place. Instead of ridding the Channel of pirates he moved to Britain where he installed a new fortification system along the coast. He also proclaimed himself Augustus, emperor, setting up a breakaway Imperium Britanniarum. Coinage was issued which depicted Carausius as co emperor and also an equal of Diocletian and Maximian.

Maximian ordered the execution of Carausius but the expedition launched in AD 289 to oust him met with disaster. Carausius was then able to become a major thorn in Maximian’s side extending his rule across the Channel to include parts of Gaul. He was also able to re-establish a naval base in Boulogne. This situation lasted until AD 293 when the newly appointed western Caesar, Constantius, besieged Boulogne which eventually fell. This undermined Carausius authority and shortly afterwards he was assassinated by his chief minister Allectus.

Much of what is known of Carausius is known through his coinage. This was issued from 3 mints. London and Colchester in Britain and later from Rouen in Gaul. By issuing his own coins depicting him as Augustus his authority was enhanced for propaganda purposes. There is an antoninianus where he is depicted along with Diocletian and Maximian as one of 3 co emperors. An important innovation was the introduction of good quality silver denarii coins. These had not been issued for many years and predate by several years the issue of silver coinage by Diocletian. Whilst Carausius is often depicted as being coarse and thuggish the quality of some of his coinage can be excellent.

The inscriptions on his coins include, PAX AVGGG, the peace of 3 Augusti, or RESTITUTOR BRITANNIAE, Restorer of Britain. On his silver denarii the legend EXPECTATE VENI, Come long awaited one. There are also a number of medallions one of which has the reverse legend VICTOR CARAVSI AVG, The victory of Carausius Augustus. By using these legends & promoting the Secular games Carausius was representing a revival of traditional Roman virtues and the traditions of empire that had been instigated by Augustus 3 centuries earlier, sure to increase his popularity amongst the people.

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Laureate bust right/Libertas standing holding pileus

The Twelve Caesars

Tarraco mint

Rare

18mm, 3.62g

This coin comes with a rough find area provenance (Hollingbourne, Kent) and is recorded with the Portable Antiquities Scheme

Galba was born to a wealthy family around 3 BC.  He held various public offices including consul, praetor and governor of various provinces before resigning during the reign of the Emperor Claudius. Reinstated by Nero he was appointed governor of Hispania. When Nero committed suicide in AD 68 he took advantage of Vindex’s rebellion to be declared emperor with the support of the Praetorian guard. Although not related to any of the previous emperors he claimed to be a relative of Livia, wife of Augustus, who left him an inheritance although this was later denied to him by Tiberius.

Galba was a sickly man who suffered severely from gout by the time he became emperor. Also noted for his avarice and cruelty he was notoriously mean and quickly upset the army by refusing to pay the soldiers who had fought against Vindex. He also tried to disband the German legions and seize their property.  Upon taking office as consul on 1st January 69 the German the 4th and 22nd legions of Germania Superior refused to swear loyalty to him. On the following day the legions of Germania Inferior under Vitellus also refused to swear loyalty and on 15th January 69 Galba was killed by his Praetorian guard.

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Diademed head right, large curls for hair/Horse right, zigzag tail, lyre below, wheel above, S in front

Rare

ABC647; 14mm, 1.47g

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 84, no 3. Found West Hampriet, Chichester

This coin comes with a previous label.

Regni/Regini

The Regni, sometimes referred to as the Regini, appear to have occupied what is today the western portion of West Sussex – their tribal civitas probably underlying what became the Roman town of Noviomagus Reginorum (Chichester). Regnian coinage is characterised not only by its sheer diversity, but also scarcity. Indeed, many of the key types are extremely rare. This is perhaps exemplified best by many of the tribe’s quarter-staters, of which no fewer than forty varieties are listed by ABC.

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Wreath, cloak and crescents/Triple tailed horse right with beaded mane, wheel below, charioteers arm over, pelletal sun in front

Extremely Rare

View Video Here

ABC 761; 16mm, 4.96g

A excellent example of this seldom seen type, which likely got its name from this very coin as it was found in 1997 at Cheesefoot Head, Hampshire. 11 known.

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 27, no 28. Found Cheesefoot Head, Hants 1997. CCI 97.0036

This coin comes with a previous label.

Belgae

Coin types attributed to the Belgae are extremely varied and, with one notable exception, uninscribed.

Developing onwards from two main stater types (Chute & Cheriton) are an extensive range of quarter-staters. Most common among these are two key issues – the ‘Hampshire Thunderbolt’ (ABC 767/BMC 129–36) and the stylistically more developed ‘Petersfield Wreath’ (ABC 773/BMC 568–70). A further 23 types of quarter-stater are listed by ABC, which show considerable variation in style. Many are obscenely rare, so much so that neither the cabinets of the British Museum nor those of major 20th century British collectors possessed examples. The horse is ubiquitous on the reverses of all these types, while obverses tend towards geometric designs – specifically those of cruciform appearance. Wheels, solar motifs, pellets-in-rings, stylised animals and wreaths abound here, truly reflecting the apogee of ‘Celtic’ art! Selected highlights include the ‘Huxtables Eagles’ (ABC 782/BMC 542–3 and ‘Danebury Scrolls’ types (ABC 791/BMC 539). It is worth noting that the ABC names for many types of the Belgae reference Danebury, the important Hampshire hillfort excavated by Barry Cunliffe in the later 20th century.

Silver units struck in the territory of the Belgae are even more variable than the quarter-staters. Several different stylistic ‘strands’ seem to be visible here. Some employ profile busts of a lunate appearance, which is sometimes combined with multiple crescents to represent the hair (e.g. ABC 836, 839, 923, 926) – a feature which connects them, as with Dobunnic issues, to prototypes deriving from Armorican coinage. By contrast, there are also coins with distinct, helmeted busts. These, like the East Anglian ‘Bury Diadem’, strongly evoke the bust of Roma on Roman Republican denarii. These types include the ‘Hampshire Helmet’, ‘Mossop Helmet’ and, to a lesser extent, the ‘Danebury Sunrays’ (ABC 851, 854, 866/BMC 609, 595–601). Another type whose obverse may take influence from denarii is the sole inscribed issue attributed to the Belgae – the so-called ‘Ex Head’ (ABC 995/BMC 614–28). Other types of silver unit still are entirely zoomorphic and depict only animals. Some of these are entirely conventional, such as the various ‘Danebury Boar’ variants (ABC 872, 875, 878/BMC 637), while others depict beasts of a more fantastical appearance. For example the ‘Danebury Dragon’, which displays a recurved, clawed animal on its obverse (ABC 896/BMC 631–33).

While no bronze coinage appears to be attributable to the Belgae, the group did produce fractional half-units and minims. These comprise a highly diverse suite of types characterised by their extreme rarity.

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Crossed wreaths, pellet in ring at centre, CRAB in angles/ Eagle standing head turned right

Extremely Rare

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ABC 1385; 13mm, 0.89g

A most attractive example of this short lived issue, often these are defaced suggesting that they weren’t popular and their rarity supports a very short lived issue. For more information click here: Silver Unit – Crab (Eagle) – Atrebates and Regini tribes – Numista

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 102, no 23. Found Newchurch, IOW 2007. CCI 08.9291 VA 1285

This coin comes with a previous label.

‘Vectuarii’

 The Isle of Wight, known as Vectis to the Romans, was inhabited by a tribe whose original name has not come down to us. While Ptolemy describes its location, he unhelpfully omits any information about the people occupying it. Although the term ‘Vectuarii’ is often promoted as a matter of convenience, the inhabitants of Wight only seem to have called themselves this well after the Romans departed Britain. The term appears in no Classical source, but instead first emerges in the 8th century writings of the historian Bede – suggesting an Anglo-Saxon origin.

In the Iron Age, Wight occupied an important, strategically significant zone straddling the spheres of influence exercised by two important, coin-issuing tribes of the mainland– the Durotriges and the Belgae. Such an advantageous location facilitated trade to the north, east and west, at least some of which may have come by way of Armorica. In consideration of this, it is perhaps unsurprising that coins struck by both the Belgae and Durotriges are prolific on the island, both as single finds and in hoards. While commercial relationships between Wight and these mainland groups are certain, it is unclear whether any political alliances were ever made.

While these coins make up most of the Iron Age issues found on the island, it is nevertheless important to note that the inhabitants of Vectis also got onboard with the process of making money – albeit to a much lesser degree than their commercial partners across the Solent. Only two coin types have thus far been identified as definite products of the ‘Vectuarii’, both of which are inscribed issues attributed to the period AD 10–40. These coins bear the name ‘CRAB’, comprising a silver unit (ABC 1385/BMC 2788) and a silver minim (ABC 1388/BMC 2789). Artistic influences derived from the Mediterranean sphere can be seen on both these types. The reverse of the unit depicts a suspiciously Roman-looking eagle, while on the obverse of the minim, the name ‘CRAB’ appears in a rectangular tablet. Cumulatively, PAS and CCI record no fewer than 12 coins of ‘CRAB’ – of which 9 have been found on Wight and the remaining 3 in close proximity within wider south-western Britain. As such, an association of ‘CRAB’ with the island is wholly indisputable.

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