Part 2

TASCIO TASCI TASCIOV TASCI RICON RICONI RICON RICON

and the like, in two lines divided from each other in a tablet across the field of the coin, appear to have been struck by Tasciovanus at some town of mintage indicated by RICON, but which has not yet been satisfactorily ascertained.

SEGO.

Coins bearing the letters SEGO on a tablet, with or without the TASCIO of Tasciovanus, would seem to have been struck by him at some place, or recording some tribe, not yet accurately appropriated.

EPATICCVS.

One of the sons of Tasciovanus and brother of Cunobeline. _Obverse_, on some, an ear of bearded coin and the letters TASCI F; or a head of Hercules, and EPATI or EPAT. _Reverse_, on some a nude mounted horseman, with lance and shield, and EPATICCV; or an eagle standing on a serpent, etc.

CVNOBELINVS.

The “Cymbeline” of Shakespeare, a son of Tasciovanus and brother of Epaticcus, and during whose reign the birth of our Saviour took place, struck a considerable variety of coins in all the metals. He had Camulodunum (Colchester) for his capital and place of mintage. Of his sons Togodumnos and Caractacus no coins are known. The coins of Cunobeline are so numerous and varied that it is not necessary to summarize their types. The following are examples of the inscriptions:--

_Obverse_, CAMVL. _Reverse_, CVNOBELI. CA MV. CVNO. CA MV. CVN. CVNO BELI. CVN. CVNO BELI. IDA. CVN. CVN. CV N. CVNO. TASC. F. CVNOBELINI. TASCIO. CVNO. TASCIO. TASCIIOVAN. CVNOBELI. CV NO. TASCIIOVA. CVNOBELINVS. TASCIOVANI. CVN or CVNO. CAM. CVNO. CAMV. CVNOBELIN. CAM. CAMVL. CVNO. CVNO. SOLIDV. CVNOBELINI. TASCIOVANI. F. CVNOBELINVS. TASCIIOVANII. F. CVNOB. TASCIIOVANTIS. CVNOBII. TAS FIL. CVNOBELINVS REX. TASC. CAMVL ODVNO. CVNO.

ADDEDOMAROS.

Possibly partly contemporary with Cunobeline. _Obverse_, on some a singular device partaking of the conventional form of the “Thunderbolt of Jove,” as before alluded to; on others, a six-limbed device, the limbs curved in “Catherine-wheel” form, and springing from three central crescents, rings and pellets in the angles; or a cross with beaded lines and two crescents (p. 6, Fig. C). _Reverse_, on some, a horse with or without branch beneath, and with or without wheel, and other rude ornaments, and ADDEDO-MARVS, or ADDEDO, or A[BO][BO]IIDO[M], or other abbreviations.

THE ICENI.

A number of inscribed coins about which nothing certain is known have, with considerable show of reason, been attributed generally to the Iceni. Their types are very varied, and need not be recapitulated. Among the inscriptions are the following:--ECE or ECEN (probably for ICEN), AESV, SAEMV or SAFMV, ANTD or ANTED, CAV ... DVRO (possibly DVRO-CAM[BORICVM]), etc., etc. Many varieties of uninscribed coins are also, with more or less show of reason, attributed to the Iceni. The _obverse_ of one example is engraved on (p. 6, Fig. i).

THE BRIGANTES.

A number of coins have, with plausible reasoning, been appropriated by Mr. Evans and other authorities, to the Brigantes, whose dominions seem to have comprised Yorkshire, Lancashire, and other northern parts, and who are indeed said to have been the original inhabitants, the Britons proper, of the island, who had been driven inland and northwards by successive invaders of the soil, and they seem to have been among the latest to retain the original national characteristics. Among the inscribed coins (which are of unusual rudeness) believed to have belonged to them, are those bearing the letters VO·LI·SI·OS on the _obverse_, and DVM NOCO VEROS, or DVMNO CO VEROS, on the _reverse_; DVMNOVERO; IISVPSV; VEP, VEP CORF, or VEP RF; DVMN on _obverse_, and TIGIP-SENO on _reverse_; AVNT or AVN-T, the AVN being over the back of the horse, and the T beneath its neck.

CHANNEL ISLANDS.

A number of types of rude uninscribed coins, partaking of the character of those of Gaulish origin, mostly in billon, but sometimes of silver or bronze, are ascribed to the Channel Islands, and numbers of them have been found in Jersey and other islands, as well as in our own country. The examples engraved are in my own possession, and were found, with others, in Devonshire.

The usual type is a boldly cut, but rudely designed, head, a coarse imitation of the Greek already referred to; and the _reverse_ a horse more or less disjointed or disintegrated, and accompanied by indications, more or less distinct, of wheels and other objects.

As indicating to some extent the area over which the coins of the ancient Britons circulated, it may be said that the approximate number of _recorded_ localities in which “finds” have been made in the “forty shires” may be summarized as most of all in Kent (say forty places); about half that number in Dorset, Sussex, and Essex; about a third in Oxfordshire; say a fourth in Suffolk, Surrey, Buckingham, Hampshire, Herts, and Northampton; and so decreasing in Beds., Cambs., and Norfolk; Berks, Middlesex, and Gloucester; Wilts and Somerset; Lincolnshire and Yorkshire; Leicestershire, Monmouthshire, and Worcestershire; and Devonshire, Cornwall, Huntingdon, Lancashire, Northumberland, Nottingham, and Westmoreland. Derbyshire, Staffordshire, and the other counties not enumerated, not having, so far as at present known to me, produced a single _recorded_ example.

COINS OF THE ANGLO-SAXONS.

The earliest coins of the Anglo-Saxon period appear to have been rude imitations of some of the later current pieces of their Roman predecessors in our island. It seems doubtful whether at first they had a coinage of their own, the probability being that those of the Romano-Britons continued, as they naturally would, to be circulated. Some of the sceattæ bear more or less rude figures and uncouth heads and devices, some being evident imitations of the well-known type of Romulus and Remus suckled by the she-wolf, and others of equally well known types. From the sceattæ, one of our common expressions at the present is derived. The word in the singular is _sceat_ or _scæt_, and the Saxon _sc_ being pronounced soft, as _sh_, became _sheat_ or _shæt_. From this it naturally became corrupted into “shot,” and thus “paying your shot” simply meant paying your money, or clearing your reckoning, and “not having a shot in your locker,” being without money in cupboard, or purse. These early coins, some of which appear to bear Runic characters, cannot with any degree of certainty be appropriated to any kings.

The penny, _penig_, _pening_, or _pending_ (said to be the diminutive of _pand_, a pledge, and also by some said to be derived from _pendere_, to weigh) is first named in the laws of Ina, king of the West Saxons, who began to reign A.D. 688. It was, as now, as has been conclusively shown, the 240th part of a pound, which weighed about 5760 grains; the weight of a penny was, therefore, 24 grains, which still in our tables constitute a “dwt.” or “pennyweight.”

The generally received opinion is that the first pennies as succeeding the sceattæ; and quite independent of the stycas, were struck by Offa, king of Mercia, from A.D. 757 to 796. “When the kingdoms of the Heptarchy were united in one sovereignty,” as I have written on another occasion, “the mints were regulated by laws framed by the Wittenagemote, or Great Council of the Nation; but it was not till the time of Æthelstan (924-940), that it was appointed there should be one kind of money throughout the whole realm, and that no one should coin but in a town. According to Stow, ‘Æthelstan made, seven coining mints at Canterbury, four for the king, two for the archbishop, and one for the abbot; at Rochester three, two for the king, and one for the bishop. Besides these, in London eight, in Winchester six, in Lewes two, in Chichester one, in Hampton two, in Shaftesbury two, and in every other town one coiner.’ The coins remaining pretty well prove this, and show there were very few considerable towns without a mint; for besides those particularly mentioned in Æthelstan’s law, there are coins of Derby, Bristol, Evesham, Exeter, Gloucester, Ipswich, Lincoln, Norwich, Shrewsbury, Thetford, Wallingford, Worcester, York, and other places. The probability is that the custom of impressing on coins the name of the town of the mintage began in the early part of the reign of Æthelstan.”

One of the largest “finds” of Anglo-Saxon coins was made at Cuerdale, where, along with a vast number of foreign pieces, there were found:--

2 of Æthelred. 24 of Æthelstan II. 1 of Ciolwulf. 857 of Alfred. 45 of Eadwerd. 1 of Abp. Ceolnoth. 59 of Abp. Plegmund. 2 of Sitric. 1770 of St. Eadmund. etc.

Under the ordinary order of arrangement, the following may be taken as indications of the coins of Anglo-Saxon rulers:--

_KINGS OF KENT._ ÆTHILBERHT I., 725-764.

The _sceat_ attributed to this king is doubtful.

EGCBERHT, 765-791.

The name is found as EGCBERHT RX. and on the _reverse_ is the moneyer’s name.

EADBEARHT, 794-798.

_Obverse_, the name EADBEARHT REX in three lines across the field.

_Reverse_, moneyer’s name with device.

CUTHRED, 798-805.

_Obverse_, on some a profile bust, others three arms branching out from the inner circle, and extending through the legend, CVDRED REX or CVDRED REX CANT. _Reverse_, moneyer’s name with similar device or cross, etc.

BALDRED, 805-823.

_Obverse_, bust or cross within inner circle, BALDRED, BELDRED, or BEALDRED REX CN or CANT. _Reverse_, moneyer’s name, cross, etc. One of his coins has on the _reverse_ DIORMOD MONETA, and within the inner circle, in two lines, DRVR CITS for _Dorovernia Civitas_ or city of Canterbury, and is the earliest known instance of place of mintage appearing upon Saxon coins.

_MERCIAN KINGS._ OFFA, 757-796.

The coins of Offa are of great variety in type, of considerable beauty in design, and of better workmanship than most of the Saxon pennies. On the _obverse_ is the name OFFA REX, or REX M, or REX MERCIORN. _Reverse_, various crosses and other devices and moneyer’s name. Of these upwards of fifty are known, and some of them used Runic letters.

CYNEFRYTH.

Coins of this queen (supposed to be the wife of Offa) are known, and bear on one side the bust and moneyer’s name; on the other her name and REGINA.

COENVVLF, 794-818.

The coins bear a marked resemblance to those of Offa, but are inferior in execution. The name is usually COENVVLF REX, with or without M for Mercia, and on the _reverse_ the moneyer’s name, and often the word MONETA. Upwards of fifty moneyers are known.

CEOLVVLF I., 819.

The appropriation of coins to this king is conjectural. The name occurs as CIOLVVLF or CEOLVVLF REX M, or MI or MCI or MERCI.

BEORNVVLF, 820-824.

_Obverse_, BEORNVVLF or BEORNWVLF REX, REX M, etc., with bust. _Reverse_, moneyer’s name.

LUDICA or LUDICAN, 824, 825.

_Obverse_, LVDICA REX or RX, ME with bust. _Reverse_, moneyer’s name, with cross, etc.

WIGLAF, 825-839.

_Obverse_, VVIGLAF REX M and bust. _Reverse_, moneyer’s name, with cross.

BERTHVVLF, 839-852.

_Obverse_, bust, and name BERHTVLF or BERHTVVLF REX or REX M. _Reverse_, moneyer’s name, with cross, etc.; one has a tall cross between T A, and another the Christian monogram [CR] within the inner circle. About twenty moneyers are known.

BURGHRED, 852-874.

_Obverse_, bust, and name BVRGRED or BVRGRD; RE, REX, or RECX M. _Reverse_, moneyer’s name, usually in a line across the middle of the coin with MON above and ETA below. About one hundred and fifty varieties of moneyers’ names are known.

CEOLVVLF II., 874.

The coins of this last of the Mercian kings are not very satisfactorily to be distinguished from those of Ceolvvlf I. They bear a bust and CIOLVVLF or CEOLVVLF REX.

_KINGS OF THE EAST ANGLES._ BEONNA.

Beonna or Beorn was contemporary with Offa. _Obverse_, BEONNA REX. _Reverse_, a cross within a square, from whose angles lines of dots project, and letters.

EADVALD, 819-827.

_Obverse_, EADVALD REX in three lines. _Reverse_, moneyer’s name.

ÆTHELSTAN I., _circa_ 828-837.

_Obverse_, bust or letter A, and name ETHELTTAN or ETHELZTAN REX or REX ANG. _Reverse_, moneyer’s name, of which several varieties are known.

ETHELWARD, _circa_ 837-850.

Same general character as the others, with ETHELWARD, AETHELVVEARD, ETHELVVEARD, or ETHELOARO, RE or REX. _Reverse_, crosses and moneyers’ names.

BEORHTRIC, _circa_ 852.

_Obverse_, letter A or AM, and name BEORHTRIC, BEORMIRIC, or BEORCHTRIC, RE or REX. _Reverse_, moneyer’s name, etc.

EADMUND, OR ST. EADMUND, 855-870.

_Obverse_, letter A or cross and crescent, and name EADMVND or ADMVND; RE, RX, or REX, AN. _Reverse_, moneyers’ names, etc., of which above thirty varieties are known.

ÆTHELSTAN II., 870-890.

_Obverse_, letter A or cross and name EDELSTIN, EDELSTAN, EDILARE, etc.; R, RE, or REX, A or AN. _Reverse_, moneyer’s name, of which several varieties are known.

_KINGS OF NORTHUMBERLAND._ ECGFRITH,

670-685.

_Obverse_, cross and name ECGFRID REX. _Reverse_, radiated cross and LVX.

ALDFRID, 685-705.

_Obverse_, cross and name ALDFRIDVS. _Reverse_, a four-footed animal.

EADBERHT, 737-758.

Nothing can be definitely asserted as to the coins of this king; those ascribed to him may belong to Ecgberht.

MOLL ETHILWALD, 759-765.

Two coins have been attributed to him, the name on the _obverse_ being on one EDI[L]HD[L]V, and on the other ATHBADIV.

ALCHRED, 765.

Coins supposed to belong to him bear the name ALCHRED or A[L]CHRED.

ELFWALD, 779-788.

Some sceattæ bearing the word E[L]FVA[L]V or VALD[F][E]LA on one side, and a quadruped on the other, have been ascribed to him.

HEARDULF, 794-806.

_Obverse_, HEARDVLF. _Reverse_, moneyer’s name, of which six are known.

ELFWALD II., 806-808.

The coins assigned to this king are uncertain.

EANRED, 808-840.

About two thousand coins of Eanred were found some years back at Hexham. His name is variously spelled, as EANRED REX, and the like, and the variety of names of moneyers numbers about a hundred.

ÆTHELRED II., 840-848.

About two thousand coins of this king were found at Hexham. Some bear his own name and that of his father Eanred. The name is spelled EDELRED, EDE[L]RED, AEILRED, AEDELRED, or AEDILRED, R or REX; and the _reverse_, the moneyer’s name and a device; the varieties of moneyers’ names numbering about a hundred.

REDULF, 844.

About a hundred of his stycas were found at Hexham. _Obverse_, cross and REDVLF, REDVVLF, REDVL, or REDVLE, RE RX or REX. _Reverse_, moneyers’ name, of which about a score of varieties are known.

OSBERCHT, 848-867.

_Obverse_, name OSBERCHT, OSBERCHTE, OSBERCHE, OSBERCHEC, OSBRCHT, OSBERH, or OSBVEHT; R, RE, or REX. _Reverse_, moneyers’ names, of which about twenty varieties are known.

ÆLLA, 862-867.

It is doubtful whether the stycas said to belong to this king are correctly appropriated.

HALFDEN, 875-883.

From the time of Halfden both sceattæ and stycas ceased to be coined. A penny and a halfpenny of his were found at Cuerdale. _Obverse_, cross and ALFDENE or VLFDENE, RX or REX. _Reverse_, moneyer’s name.

SITRIC.

_Obverse_, SITRIC COMEZ in two lines across the coin, with crosses between; _reverse_, moneyer’s name in lines across the coin.

CNUT, 883-900.

Of Cnut no fewer than 2534 coins were found at Cuerdale in 1840. _Obverse_, CNVT, CNVTI, CVNNETTI (differently abbreviated), CNT, etc.; R, RN, RX, RIX, REX, etc. Some have a cross of various forms with the letters CNVT terminating the four

C | limbs, thus V-+-T _Reverse_, extremely varied, with crosses | N

and other devices, and moneyers’ town or names, as EBRAICE CIVITAS, MIRABILA FECIT, SIEFREDVS, etc.

SIEFRID, _circa_ 900.

_Obverse_, crosses and name, as SIEFREDVS, SIEVERT, SIEVERTI, or SIUERT; R, RE, or REX. The cross with letters at ends of

CSIE E | D | F the limbs occurs on some, as I --|-- R _Reverse_, names of I | X SRE

moneyer or town with cross, etc., and on some the word

X | REX X--|--R etc. | E

ALWALD, 901-905.

_Obverse_, ALVALDVS or ALVVALDV. _Reverse_, D[=NS] [=DS] REX in two lines across the coin.

SITRIC, _circa_ 921-926.

_Obverse_, SITRIC REX in two lines across the coin divided by a sword; SITRIC CVNVNC A with trefoil ornament; or L[=VD]O SITRC in two lines with sword between, and hammer of Thor below, dividing the lower word. _Reverse_, crosses and crescents and lettering.

ERIC, 927-954.

_Obverse._ ERIC REX A, or AL, EBOR, EF, EN, IO, N or NO, or TO, in two lines divided by a sword. _Reverse_, moneyer’s name, etc.

REGNALD, 912-944.

_Obverse_, trefoil interlaced knot, or cross, and name, REGNALD CVNVL, or REG CVNVNC. _Reverse_, cross or “Danish Standard,” and AVRA MONITRE or BA[ldri]C NOTR AL, etc.

ANLAF.

_Obverse_, cross, “Danish Raven,” or interlaced trefoil knot, and the name ANLAF, ONLAF or ONLOF, REX, or CVNVNC, T D or other letters. _Reverse_, cross, Danish Raven, or Danish Standard, and moneyer’s name, followed by MONETA, MONE, MONETR, MINETER, etc., etc. About twenty varieties of moneyers’ names are known. One _reverse_ has the moneyer’s name, RADVLF, in a line across the coin, with a flower and leaves above, and flowers below.

_KINGS OF THE WEST SAXONS, etc._ ECGBEORHT.

_Obverse_, profile, cross, or other device with name ECGBEARHT, AEGCBEARHT, or HECBEARHT; R, RE, or REX; SAX or SAXO. _Reverse_, crescents, tribrach, monogram, or cross and moneyer’s name, of which there are about thirty varieties known.

ETHELWLF, 837-856.

_Obverse_, cross, bust, or monogram, etc., and name ETHELVVLF, ÆTHELVVLF, AETHLVLF, ETHELVLF, ETHELVVLFI, or other form; R, RE, REX, or REXX. _Reverse_, cross, monogram, or other device, and moneyer’s name. On some the titles of the king are continued on the _reverse_, as CANT, SAXONIORVM, OCCIDENTALIVM, etc. About sixty varieties of moneyer’s names are known.

AETHELBEARHT; 856-866.

_Obverse_, bust with name AETHELBEARHT or AETHEBEARHT, RE or REX. _Reverse_, cross or other device, and moneyer’s name, etc. The one engraved bears in a cross the moneyer’s name [+] DEGBEARHT, and MO of MONETA, the last four letters of which (NETA) are between the limbs of the cross. Sixty varieties of moneyers’ names are known.

AETHELRED, 866-871.

_Obverse_, bust, or in one instance front of a temple, and name, AETHELRED, ETHELRED, EDELRED, ATHELERED, or ATHLEDI; REX or REX ANG. _Reverse_, cross, or other device, and moneyer’s name, of which about thirty varieties are known.

AELFRED, 872-901.

_Obverse_, bust of the king on many coins, on others a cross or other device, with the name ÆLFRED, ÆLFRD, ÆLFD, EL, ELFRED, or AELFRED; R, RE, RX or REX; S, SAX, SAXONVM, etc. _Reverse_, various devices and moneyers’ names, of which about two hundred varieties are known. Some of his coins bear the monogram of London, or rather Londini, sometimes with or without the moneyer’s name, and MONETA and others with monograms of other places of mintage. The variety of forms and devices upon Alfred’s coins is exceptionally great.

EDWEARD THE ELDER, 901-925.

_Obverse_, bust, cross, star, or other device, and name EADVVEARD REX SAXONVM. On some there is no device, and the name is arranged in three lines across the coin. _Reverse_, cross, building, bird, flower, or other device, and moneyer’s name, etc., of which there are about 130 varieties known.

AETHELSTAN, 925-941.

_Obverse_, crowned bust or cross, and name ÆTHELSTAN, ETHELSTAN, ÆDELSTAN, or abbreviated; R or REX, or REX SAXORVM, or REX TOTIVS BRITANNIÆ, etc. _Reverse_, cross, building, or other device, and name of moneyer, etc. On some the name is in lines across the coin, and some are devoid of all ornament. The names upon these coins, of towns where minted, are Derby, Bath, Southampton, Canterbury, Exeter, York, Gloucester, Hereford, Leicester, London, Langport, Norwich, Oxford, Rochester, Shaftesbury, Shrewsbury, Nottingham, Stafford, Worcester, Wallingford, Wareham, and Winchester, and the number of known varieties of moneyers’ names closely approaches 220.

EADMUND, 941-946.

_Obverse_, bust, or cross and name, as EADMVND, or EDMEVNDI, REX. _Reverse_, small cross in centre of inner circle and moneyer’s name, or the name in lines across. The places of mintage are London, York, Exeter, Southampton, Leicester, Oxford, and Norwich, and the number of varieties of moneyer’s names over 160.

EADRED, 946-955.

_Obverse_, bust, or cross, etc., and name, as EADRED or ETHRED REX, or REX ANGLOR, or REX SAXORVM. _Reverse_, moneyer’s name, either in the usual way or in lines across, and small cross or other device. The known towns of mintage on these coins are Exeter, Lincoln, and Norwich, and the number of varieties of moneyers’ names is over 160.

EADWIG, 955-959.

_Obverse_, bust or cross, and name, as EADVVIG REX. _Reverse_, moneyer’s name, etc., in usual way or in lines, with cross or other device. The towns of mintage are Exeter, Bedford, York, Southampton, Hereford, Huntingdon, London, Norwich, Worcester, and Winchester, and there are sixty known varieties of moneyers’ names.

_SOLE MONARCHS._ EADGAR, 959-975.

_Obverse_, bust or cross, and name, as EADGAR REX, or REX ANGLOR, or other abbreviation of ANGLORVM, or TO BI, or TOTIVS BRITANNIÆ. _Reverse_, moneyer’s names, etc. The towns of mintage are Bath, Bedford, Canterbury, Derby, Exeter, Ely, York, Canterbury, Gloucester, Ipswich, Southampton, Rochester, Huntingdon, Tutberge, Lewes, Leicester, Lyminge, Lincoln, Lynn, London, Malmesbury, Norwich, Oxford, Shrewsbury, St. Edmundsbury, Stamford, Thetford, Teignmouth, Wallingford, Winchelsea, Wilton, and Winchester; and the varieties in names of moneyers are almost innumerable.

EADWARD (II.) THE MARTYR, 975-978.

_Obverse_, bust, or cross, and name, as EADPEARD or EADVVEARD, REX, ANG, ANL, or ANGLORVM, more or less abbreviated. _Reverse_, moneyers’, etc., names as usual. The towns of mintage are Bath, Bedford, Canterbury, Chester, Derby, Exeter, York, Ipswich, Gloucester, Cambridge, Southampton, Hertford, Lewes, Leicester, Lincoln, Lyminge, Lydford, London, Norwich, Oxford, St. Edmundsbury, Stamford, Tamworth, Thetford, and Winchester; the varieties in names of moneyers being above a hundred.

AETHELRED II., 978-1016.

_Obverse_, bust of varied character with or without sceptre, etc., or Agnus Dei, with name, as ÆDELRED, EDELRED, or EDELRÆD, REX, ANG, ANGL, ANGM, or ANGLORVM, etc. _Reverse_, various crosses and other devices, or hand from heaven between A ω, and moneyer and town names. The known names of mintages are Bath, Bedford, Buckingham, Canterbury, Cambridge, Chichester, Chester, Colchester, Derby, Dublin, Dover, Dorchester, Exeter, Godalming, Gloucester, Ilchester, Ipswich, Hertford, Hereford, Huntingdon, Jedburgh, Shaftesbury, Shrewsbury, Southampton, Sudbury, Lewes, Lancaster, Leicester, Lyminge, Lincoln, London, Lydford, Maldon, Malmesbury, Norwich, Oxford, Reading, Winchester, Castle Rising, Rochester, Stafford, Thetford, Totnes, Torksey, Warwick, Wallingford, Watchet, Worcester, Wilton, and Winchester.

CNUT, 1016-1035.