Regini & Atrebates Epaticcus c. AD 20-40 Epaticcus Interlocking Squares Silver Minim *Very Rare*
£875.00
Regini & Atrebates Epaticcus c. AD 20-40 Epaticcus Interlocking Squares Silver Minim
Very rare
ABC 1367, 9mm, 0.28g
A premium example of type with wonderfully clear detail on both sides.
Obverse
TA inscription in two interlocking squares, forming eight-pointed star. Pellet border.
Reverse
Pegasus right. Letters E P A below, in front and above. Exergual line below. Pellet border.
Comments
Van Arsdell Classification: Atrebatic K, Third Coinage of Verica. Note that Van Arsdell attributes this type to Verica, reading the obverse inscription as VI and the reverse inscription as V above, REX below.
Sills places the Box Lion unit (ABC 1355) at the start of Epaticcus’s reign, and associates it with the Mini Pegasus (ABC 1373) and Boar’s Head (ABC 1370) minims. This is followed by the Head Lion unit (ABC 1352) which is associated with Interlocking Squares and Bull and Eagle (ABC 1358) minims. Next is the Victory unit (ABC 1349) and the associated Dog and Tree minim (ABC 1361). The end of his reign is marked with the Eagle unit (ABC 1346) and Helmeted Bust (Dog) minim (ABC 1364). There is only one gold, the Corn Ear Warrior stater (ABC 1343).
Sills chronology: Gallo-Belgic Ca – Insular Cf / Aa Westerham – British Ad – British Q and L – British Qa-b Derivatives – Commios – Tincomarus – Verica – Epaticcus.
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 PT, 9.10.1997. Seaby Plate coin (1999-2026, S361) VA560-1
This coin comes with a previous label.
Epatticus (c. AD 20–40?)
Towards the end of Verica’s rule, it appears to be the case that the Trinovantes and Catavellaunii, under Cunobelin’s guiding hand, began making inroads into other areas of southern Britain. The territory of the Atrebates was just one of these, with Cunobelin’s brother or half-brother Epatticus apparently leading the charge here. Although Epatticus did not manage to conquer all their holdings, coin distributions suggest his dominion extended over a large part of Atrebatic territory by c. AD 25, comprising a broad arc of land running from Chichester in the south to Swindon in the north. Most of these were probably struck at the historic regional capital of Calleva Atrebatum. Despite his successes, upon Epaticcus’s death, somewhere around AD 35, much of the Atrebatic territory taken by him was lost. Epatticus’ coins include some beautiful types, including impressive gold staters where he is styled as ‘TASC[IOVANVS] F[ILIVS]’ – son of Tasciovanus. Much more common (and affordable, for the Celtic collector!) are his silver units of the so-called ‘Epatticus Eagle’ type (ABC 1346/BMC 2024–93), which depicts a lionskin adorned Hercules on its obverse face.
Out of stock
