The late Iron Age coins are rarely found one at a time. They are often found in hoards. Apparently few used them. Perhaps they belonged to kings, or maybe rich merchants. They could have been used in trade, especially with the people of the continent. In fact, some seem to have originated on the continent with the Belgic people. And, there is a strong likelihood that some of the Belgic migrated across the English Channel, and set up settlements in Britain. Perhaps this is how the idea of coinage come to Britain.
Two sources indicate many of the coins had no monetary use at all. Because of where they were buried they are thought to have been votive offerings to the gods of Britain.
Comments
blackspanielgalleryDec 18, 2025
DerdriuMarrinerAug 2, 2025
Is there any indication as to whether coins as offerings or coins for trade inspired the first monies?
frankbeswickSep 30, 2018
blackspanielgallerySep 30, 2018
frankbeswickSep 29, 2018
TolovajSep 29, 2018
frankbeswickAug 18, 2018
blackspanielgalleryAug 18, 2018
DerdriuMarrinerAug 18, 2018
frankbeswickAug 8, 2018
blackspanielgalleryAug 8, 2018
sandyspiderAug 8, 2018
blackspanielgalleryAug 8, 2018
frankbeswickAug 7, 2018
Wales as a country did not exist in the first century B.C., but it seems to be the case that the tribes who inhabited what is now Wales did not produce coins.Though as you said in your article, the Dobuni, who dwelt in Gloucestershire, not far from Wales, produced coins. It would be interesting to see what was the source of the gold that they used.
Welsh gold,obtained by panning and to a lesser extent mining, is still used for royal wedding rings.
blackspanielgalleryAug 7, 2018
frankbeswickAug 7, 2018
The source that said that the gold for the coins was imported was correct. It would be necessary for the gold to be imported, for the South of England has no gold mines. Some gold might have been mined in Wales. This could easily be ascertained with a spectroscopic analysis of the coins.
VeronicaAug 7, 2018
blackspanielgalleryAug 7, 2018
blackspanielgalleryAug 7, 2018
One source suggests some of the people were mercenaries, so they returned with Greek coins.
One source seems to believe they used coins for trade, and possible purchases, but archaeological evidence is that few were unearthed other than in hoards, So, barter must have remained. Perhaps gold and silver were too valuable. I believe the tribes were in contact with each other, so tribe to tribe barter is likely, not spreading coins far inland.
While sources say southeast, I might use southern.
Apparently most coinage came to Britain is the last century B. C. and went to Roman coinage with the conquest.
frankbeswickAug 7, 2018
Even before the Roman invasions the southern British were being drawn to Rome, and their elites were increasingly attracted by the Roman way of doing things, and so would have met Roman coinage. They would have wanted to produce their own for status reasons.
VeronicaAug 7, 2018
I have 7 iron age workshops next month and will be using this information in this post.
frankbeswickAug 7, 2018
You are right about the South-East being where coins are found. Northern Britain had a barter economy,so no coins.But you might not be aware that parts of Northern Scotland had a non-coin economy among the ordinary folk until the eighteenth century.