Elementary arithmetic, with brief notices of its history... by Robert Potts.

'6 MONEY.
TASO, Tasciovanus, king of the Trinobantes, who probably reigned
about B.C. 30 to AD. 5. His son Cunobeline succeeded, and reigned
until about 42, A.D. On his gold, silver, and brass coins are found
CYr, CVNO, cVNoBELI, for Cunobelinus; and CAMV, CAMYL, for Oamu.lodunum, Colchester, the capital of Cunobeline's kingdom. The Roman
letters and other devices on his coins plainly indicate an imitation of
the coins of Augustus. It is stated by Geoffrey of Monmouth that
Cunobeline was brought up at Rome under Augustus, and that a
friendship subsisted between this king and the Romans.1
A few years after the death of Cunobeline, Britain was subjugated
a second time under Claudius more completely than before, and the
edict issued, as related by Gildas (De Excid. Brit. c. 5), ordered that
all current money should have the imperial stamp. This was the
usual practice in all countries which the Romans reduced under their
power. A triumph had been decreed to Claudius in 43 A.D. for
his conquest of Britain, which was celebrated the next year, and
*a triumphal arch was also erected to him (Dio Cassius, II.). After
this Claudius issued a gold coinage, of which specimens are extant.
On the obverse of these coins is the head of Claudius laureated
towards the right, with the circumscription TI. CLAVD. CAESA. AVG.
P r. M. TR. P. VIIII. IP. XVI., and on the reverse, the front of a
triumphal arch, with a pediment inscribed DE BRITANN, and surmounted by an equestrian statue between two trophies. He issued
also a silver coinage. On the obverse is the head of the Emperor
towards the left, and the same superscription as on the gold coinage:
on the reverse, DE ]iBITANN, with the figure of the Emperor in a
quadriga, his right hand resting on the edge, and his left holding a
sceptre surmounted with an eagle.
During the rule of the Emperor Hadrian 117 to 138 A.D., the
Britons revolted, and the Caledonians destroyed some of the fortresses
built by Agricola. Hadrian, on hearing of these tumults, hastened
to Britain, and reduced the people to submission; and to protect
the Northern frontier of the province, built the wall which extended from the river Tyne to the Eden. Of the coinages in brass
during his reign, there is one of which the pieces are large,
having on the obverse the head of Hadrian laureated to the right,
with the superscription HADRIANVS. AVG. Aos. III.; and on the
reverse, a female figure seated, her right foot resting on a rock, her
head resting on her right hand, and a spear in her left, by her side
a large circular shield with the circumscription BRITANNIA. The usual
1 See the Catalogue of a Selection from the British and English Coins in the
Fitzwilliam Museum, Cambridge, by Churchill Babington, B,D., F.L.S., &c.,
Disney Professor of Archmeology, pp. 14, 4to., 1867.
In the Fitzwilliam Museum at Cambridge is a coin of Cunobeline, presented
by the Rev. W, Selwyn, D.D., the Lady Margaret Reader in Divinity. The
coin is of gold and was found near Shepreth in 1869. On the obverse, which
is concave, is the figure of a horse in the action of galloping with the head on
the coin towards the right. At the back of the neck is a star of four rays, or
some mark like it, and under the figure the letters CVNO. On the reverse is
an ear of wheat across the coin. On the right side of it are the letters MV, with
three pellets over them. On the left is an imperfect letter, the upper part like
the letter A, the lower part of it worn away. It is not unlikely the letter C may
not have been struck with the A, as the left half of the coin is not a complete
half circle as the right.. Tiberius Claudius Caesar Augustus, Pontifex Maximus, Tribunitia Potestate
nonum, Imperator decimum sextum.