XIV.—On the Condition of Britain from the descent of Cæsar to the coming of Claudius, accompanied by a Map of a portion of Britain in its ancient state, shewing the finding of Indigenous Coins. By John Yonge Akerman, Esq. F.S.A. Secretary

John Yonge Akerman Esq.

doi:10.1017/S0261340900002666

XIV.—On the Condition of Britain from the descent of Cæsar to the coming of Claudius, accompanied by a Map of a portion of Britain in its ancient state, shewing the finding of Indigenous Coins. By John Yonge Akerman, Esq. F.S.A. Secretary

Published online by Cambridge University Press: 12 June 2012

John Yonge Akerman Esq.

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I purpose, with the indulgence of the Society, to discuss an early chapter in the history of Britain; to examine the evidence we possess of the progress of civilisation among our primitive ancestors during the first half century of the Christian era, and thus to investigate the probable condition of this island previous to its becoming a Roman province.

Type: Research Article
Information: Archaeologia , Volume 33 , Issue 2 , 1850 , pp. 177 - 190

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1017/S0261340900002666 [Opens in a new window]
Copyright: Copyright © The Society of Antiquaries of London 1850

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^{page 177 note a} Bell. Gall. lib. vi. c. 13.

^{page 177 note b} Vita Agricolæ, c. xiii.

^{page 178 note a} Vita Agricolæ, c. 11.

^{page 178 note b} Dion. Cassius, lib. lx. p. 677, ed. 1606; Sueton. in Claud, c. 17.

^{page 178 note c} Vita Agricolæ, c. 4.

^{page 179 note a} Compare the speech of Germanicus to his soldiers, in Tacitus, Ann. lib. ii. c. 14, with the same author's description of the Germans, Germania, c. 4.

^{page 179 note b} Germania, c. xiv.

^{page 179 note c} Annales, lib. ii. c. 2.

^{page 179 note d} Eumenius Paneg. in Constantino Cæs. c. 14.

^{page 179 note e} Bell. Gall. lib. iv. c. 20.

^{page 179 note f} Bell. Gall, loco citato.

^{page 180 note a} Bell. Gall. lib. v. c. 12. The precise geographical distribution of the objects called “Celts” would be an interesting subject of antiquarian inquiry.

^{page 180 note b} Casts of moulds for forming celts may be seen in the Society's museum.

^{page 181 note a} For Gades see Strabo, lib. iii.; Stephanus, v. Γαδειρα; Solinus, cap. xxiii. For Sex see Pliny, lib. iii. c. 1; Strabo, lib. iii. For Malaca see Plin. lib. iii. c. 1; Strabo, lib. iii. c. 4.

^{page 181 note b} Vita Agricolæ, c. 36.

^{page 182 note a} Vol. XIV. p. 90.

^{page 182 note b} See the localities marked red on the map, and numbered 10 to 18.

^{page 183 note a} See my Ancient Coins of Cities and Princes, p. 185, note 1.

^{page 183 note b} Dion Cassius, lib. lx. p. 677.

^{page 183 note c} P. 5.

^{page 184 note a} See the places of finding marked red on the map. Since this was written another coin has been found at Bramber Castle.

^{page 184 note b} Num. Chron. vol. VII. p. 78.

^{page 185 note a} The unscientific arrangement of these coins by Ruding has planted an error which it will require many years to uproot. The editor of the Monumenta Historica Britannica says some of these coins have been claimed by French numismatists as Gaulish. I have only to observe that there is no rivalry as to the claim among the practically informed numismatists of either country. These coins are for the most part perfectly well distinguished.

^{page 185 note b} See a Dissertation on the Phaleræ by M. de Longpérier, Revue Numismatique, tome xiii. p. 85; and the Numismatic Chronicle, vol. XI. p. 149.

^{page 186 note a} I beg the reader to believe that in describing this type as depicting a victory I had no idea of assuming that it alluded to any special overthrow. It obviously has a general signification, and typifies the indomitable spirit of the Gauls.

^{page 186 note b} Numismatic Chronicle, vol. I. p. 13.

^{page 186 note c} Germania, c. 5. This passage, which appears to have perplexed the earlier commentators, is now sufficiently comprehended. The coins which the Germans preferred were the still very common consular denarii, many of which are notched round the edges. Of this preference advantage was taken by the forgers of those days, and specimens of false denarii, formed of copper plated with silver, and notched round the edges, are of frequent occurrence in collections of consular coins.

^{page 186 note d} See Ruding, pl. 1, figs. 9 to 15.

^{page 187 note a} Ibid. pl. 3, fig. 50; Numismatic Journal, vol. 1, pl. 1, fig. 12.

^{page 187 note b} See the localities marked with a red circle on the Map.

^{page 187 note c} Vita Agricolæ, c. 14.

^{page 188 note a} Vita Agricolæ, c. 24.

^{page 188 note b} Ibid. c. 15.

^{page 188 note c} Ibid. c. 12.

^{page 189 note a} See also Ancient Coins of Cities and Princes, Plates XXIII. and XXIV.

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XIV.—On the Condition of Britain from the descent of Cæsar to the coming of Claudius, accompanied by a Map of a portion of Britain in its ancient state, shewing the finding of Indigenous Coins. By John Yonge Akerman, Esq. F.S.A. Secretary

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