Summary

Gold coin; Denomination: Stater

Struck under a "King" of the Celtic tribe the Dobunni called Antedrig (Latin Antedrigus, sometimes just Anted). The monarchs of the Dobunni are known only from their names on their coins. The order of their rule (and even if they should be called Kings) is unknown but is probably what the Romans would have called them.

Mack (p.127) suggests that the previous un-named staters from the last of the Gallo-Belgic invasions (known as Gallo-Belgic F) would have reached Western England and the lands controlled by the Dobunni in about 40 BC, local production, characterised by the tree-like branched emblem on the obverse, should therefore have occurred after that date. The additions of names of 'Kings' or chiefs came later with Mack offering the order Antedrig, Eisu, Aatti, Comux, Inham, Corio and Bodvoc. This is uncertain, the coins may have been the issues of regional chiefs among the Dobunni and some may be simultaneous issues.

Obverse Description

Branched emblem with five arms on either side of central stalk, beads on the end of each branch and the main stalk.

Reverse Description

Crude horse to right; above, '[A]NTEO'; below, a wheel.

Edge Description

plain

More Information

  • Collecting Areas

    Numismatics & Philately

  • Acquisition Information

    Transfer from National Gallery of Victoria (NGV), 15 Mar 1976

  • Acknowledgement

    Purchased, Felton Bequest, 1929

  • Date Issued

    40 BC-43 AD

  • Issued By

    King Antedrig - Dobunni Tribe, Ancient Britain, 40 BC- 43 AD
    The Dobunni lived in southwestern Britain (broadly with the counties of North Somerset, Bristol, and Gloucestershire). Their capital in the Romsan era was Corinium Dobunnorum, (modern Cirencester). Their Territory was probably bordered by the Cornovii and Corieltauvi to the North; the Catuvellauni to the East; the Atrebates and Belgae to the South; and the Silures and Ordovices to the West. Remnants of several fortified camps, otherwise known as hillforts, thought to have been occupied by the Dobunni can be seen in the Bristol. The Roman Historian Dio Cassius referred to the tribe as "Bodunni", probably a misspelling of the Dobunni. Tributary to the Catuvellauni, they capitulated to the invading Romans when Caratacus and Togodumnus withdrew. They were not a warlike people and submitted early to the Romans and adopted the Romano-British lifestyle.

  • Issued To

    Dobunni Tribe, Ancient Britain, 40 BC- 43 AD

  • Denomination

    Stater

  • Series

    Celtic

  • Material

    Gold

  • Axis

    5

  • Classification

    Coins, Great britain, Working strikes

  • Category

    History & Technology

  • Discipline

    Numismatics

  • Type of item

    Object

  • Overall Dimensions

    19 mm (Outside Diameter), 5.41 g (Weight)
    16*19 mm

  • Shape

    Irregular

  • References

    Mack 386, Spink 379, Evans I.7
    [Book] Mack, R. P. 1975. The Coinage of Ancient Britain., p.136, no.386 Pages
    [Book] Evans, John. 1864. The Coins of the Ancient Britons., I.17 Pages
    [Book] Skingley, Philip. 2007. Coins of England and the United Kingdom., Spink p.34, no.379 Pages

  • Keywords

    Celtic Art