Vine leaf, VERI around/Warrior holding spear and sword on horse right, REX below

Excessively Rare

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ABC 1211 (plate coin); 10mm, 1.32g

The first of this type we have offered for sale, a rare oppertunity to secure a genuine rarity in the series. 6 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

Spink PT, 1996  Seaby plate coin (1999-?, S 128), ABC plate coin, VA 525

This coin comes with a previous label.

Verica (AD 10–40)

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 Regini & Atrebates Verica c. AD 10 – 40 Verica Vine Leaf Rex Gold Quarter Stater *Excessively Rare* appeared first on Silbury Coins.

Wreath, cloak and crescents, crescents also above wreath/Triple tailed horse right, wheel below. TIN above, COMARVS  below

Rare

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ABC 1049; 17mm, 5.43g

This type always softly struck, this being one of the better examples we have seen.

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, 2000 VA 363-1

This coin comes with a previous label.

Tincomarus (25 BC–AD 10?)

Striking both in gold and silver, Tincomarus is notable in that he is one of several Atrebatic rulers to style himself ‘COM F’ on coinage – an abbreviation of the Latin Commii Filius (‘son of Commius’). His issues are highly variable, being divided into no fewer than four different styles. These demonstrate a clear shift from indigenous art-styles towards Classically-influenced motifs, which often employ designs derived from contemporary Roman prototypes. The latter has been suggested as evidence that Tincomarus spent time in Rome as a hostage, which in all likelihood exposed him to a plethora of Classical art in various mediums. No finer example of this exists in his coinage than the so-called ‘Tincomarus Warrior’ staters (e.g. ABC 1061/BMC 767–8), the reverse featuring an equestrian design lifted directly from Republican denarii of 82 BC, struck by the moneyer P. Crepusius. He appears in Augustus’ Res Gestae, being named as a suppliant British king alongside the Kentish Dubnovellaunos.

The post Regini & Atrebates Tincomarus c. 25 BC – AD 10 Tincomarus Alfriston Gold Stater *Rare* appeared first on Silbury Coins.

Plain except for slight banding and pellet near edge/Triple tailed horse right with wheel below, complex charioteer’s arm above

Excessively Rare

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ABC521 (plate coin); 17mm, 5.90g

A great rarity in fabulous condition, this enigmatic type is likely to have been amongst the earliest coins struck in Britain, closely copying the Suessiones series. Just 3 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 104, no 18. Found Chichester, W Sussex. DK ill. 205 (this coin) ABC Plate coin

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.

The post Regini 1st Century BC Selsey Stockholm Gold Stater *Excessively Rare* appeared first on Silbury Coins.

Right type

Flamboyant wreath bust right with big hair/Horse right, charioteer above

Rare

ABC1; 21mm, 7.37g

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The very beginning of the story of coinage in Britain, Coin of England number 1. These were the prototypes for British coinage and are highly important as such. Examples like this with Apollo facing right are much rarer than the left facing type.

Provenance

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

CNG Triton I auction (December 1997), Lot 2195, ex David Sear. Scheers class IV. VA 10-1

This coin comes with a previous label.

Iron Age Gallo Belgic & early uninscribed coins are found all over Britain. These coins were made in Gaul then imported during the 2nd-1st Century BC, before coin manufacture was established in Britain. The introduction of Britain’s own coinage in around 60-50 BC was in an uninscribed form to start with, only later did rulers realise the potential of inscriptions.

The post Gallo Belgic Ambiani 2nd Century BC Broad Flan Gold Stater appeared first on Silbury Coins.

Plain/Stylised Roman trophy

Rare

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ABC192; 17mm, 1.25g

An attractive coin with distinguished pedigree.

Provenance

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

Sothebys, L Stack Collection, April 1999, lot 17. Ex Carlyon Britton (Lot 13) & Mossop collection VA 145-1

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 1st Century BC Caesar’s Trophy Gold Quarter Stater *Rare* appeared first on Silbury Coins.

Head left with snakeheads around/Horse left with rider on back and snakeheads around

Excessively Rare

ABC237; 14mm, 1.03g

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A wonderful example of this seldom seen type, well struck on a large flan with little wear, contributing to this being a captivating piece of early art. An early British issue based on a Gaulish prototype. 4 known (as of 03.2014).

Provenance

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

A Gillis FPL 10, (December 1995) no C3

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 Snakeheads Silver Unit *Excessively Rare* appeared first on Silbury Coins.

Coiled dragon/Horse right with large pellet on chest and rump, cross hatched nets above and below

Excessively Rare

ABC243; 12mm, 1.00g

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Well struck in good silver, a most attractive type and example. This example better than the ABC plate coin. 4 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 112, no 9, found Canterbury, Kent VA 1644

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 Canterbury Dragon Silver Unit *Excessively Rare* appeared first on Silbury Coins.

SOLIDV on plain field, chain border/Standing figue left holding staff. CV to left, NO to right

Extremely Rare

ABC474; 12mm, 1.27g

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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 1995, found St Albans 1987. Seaby COE 2006 plate coin VA 2073-1

This coin comes with a previous label.

Solidv (AD 40–43?)

Just as ‘Sego’ occurs on coins also naming Tasciovanus, so does ‘Solidv’ also appear on coins in conjunction with another ruler’s name – Cunobelin. While initially doubted as securely Kentish products, the distribution of metal-detected finds seems to indicate that they were produced there, though almost certainly not in large numbers. While ‘Solidv’ may refer to the name of a ruler, a local official or even a mint-place, its precise meaning is currently lost to time. It is also plausible that it could represent, as with ‘Sego’, some kind of title. Nevertheless, its occurrence on a coin apparently using an issue of Caligula as a reverse prototype (AD 37–41) suggests a date right at the very end of the Late Iron Age, quite literally a few years prior to Claudius’ invasion.

The post Cantiaci Solidus c. AD 40-43 Silver Unit *Extremely Rare* appeared first on Silbury Coins.

Two thin crescents back to back, pellet in each cusp/Horse right, right foreleg raised

Extremely Rare

ABC402 (listed as Eppillus but since reattributed due to new inscribed stater discovery); 8mm, 0.20g

Sills DK 121: Coinage of Kent, The Southern Region Dynasty in Kent; Anarevito; Silver – Stepping Horse. Sills believes this coin was struck by Anarevito (J.Sills, Divided Kingdoms, p.78, 783) rather than Eppillus given its resemblance to his stater. (first discovered in 2024). 3 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 132, no 8

This coin comes with a previous label.

The post Cantiaci Anarevitos c.AD 10-15 Stepping Horse Silver Minim *Extremely Rare* appeared first on Silbury Coins.

Letter A  on plain field/Horse left with ladder mane, solar motif above and rings below

Scarce

ABC 1031; 9mm, 1.21g

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 9, no 9. Found Thames, North Kent 1986. CCI 94.0671 VA 353-5

This coin comes with a previous label.

Commios (c. 50/30 BC–?)

In his account of the Gallic War, Caesar describes how he had appointed a man called Commius to be king over the Atrebates in Gaul, before sending him to Britain as an envoy to treat with the British tribes. Other information from both Caesar and related sources paints a treacherous picture, with Commius supposedly turning rebel and throwing his lot in with Vercingetorix during the Gallic rebellion. Fleeing to Britain after Caesar’s victory at Alesia, he apparently ruled there for the rest of his life. Because the earliest inscribed British staters of the Atrebates name an individual named ‘Commios’, it has become accepted in popular history that these are the same individuals – though it is highly unlikely that this is the case. We can attribute this conflation to the archaeologist Sir Arthur Evans, who felt that a concentration of Commius staters in Atrebatic territory was sufficient evidence in this regard. Simon Bean has re-dated the British gold staters inscribed ‘Commios’ to around 30 BC, which seems rather late to be the same Commius whom Caesar first sent to Britain in the 50s BC.

The post Regini & Atrebates Commios c. 50-25 BC Commios A Type Gold Quarter Stater *Scarce* appeared first on Silbury Coins.