Ancients: BRITAIN. Catuvellauni and Trinovantes. Cunobelin (ca. AD 8-41). AV stater (17mm, 5.58 gm, 3h). NGC Choice AU 4/5 - 3/5, brushe...

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"King of the Britons"

BRITAIN. Catuvellauni and Trinovantes. Cunobelin (ca. AD 8-41). AV stater (17mm, 5.58 gm, 3h). NGC Choice AU 4/5 - 3/5, brushed. Cunobelinus Biga Type, Camulodunum (Colchester), ca. AD 10-43. CAMVL (MVL ligate), name on a central panel with pellet in annulet at either end; wreath of two pelleted lines separated by a solid line above and below, alternating heart shapes and "L" composed of pellets in the angles / CVNOBELIN (in curved frame below), two horses bounding left; leaf above, wheel below. ABC 2771. Van Arsdell 1910. Carefully centered on a lustrous flan with hints of orange and violet toning. A magnificent example of this rare issue.

From the Wetmore Collection of Gold and Electrum. Ex Freeman & Sear, Fixed Price List (16 June 2001), lot 2.

Often referred to as "The King of the Britons" in medieval folklore, Cunobelin was a Catuvellauni king reigning from the late 1st century BC to the middle of the first century AD, overseeing the prime of what historians often refer to as the "Cunobelian Hegemony." The son of Tasciovanus, Cunobelin became the most powerful tribal ruler in northern Europe after seizing control of Camulodunum in about AD 10. His prosperous reign extended over vast territories in southeastern Britain. Linguistically, his name, meaning "The Hound of Belenus" -- Belenus being a continental Sun-God -- gives a nod to the syncretic religious practices during his era. Cunobelin's critical role in the historical narrative also resonates in the world of numismatics. His coinage, predominantly minted in gold, silver, and bronze, showcased elaborate and complex designs, often featuring inscriptions, intricate Celtic motifs, and divine symbols. Most of his coins carry both his name and that of his capital, which under his command expanded from a large hillfort or oppidum into an international trade center covering ten square miles.

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