CELTIC, Britain. Catuvellauni & Trinovantes. Cunobelin. Circa 10-41 AD. AE Unit (2.38 gm). Sow Type. 
Helmeted Roman-style head right, CVNO BELINVS around, beaded 
border 
Sow standing right, TASCIIOVANIIF around. 
Hobbs 1956-60; Van Arsdell 2091; SCBC 337. 
VF, olive patina. ($400)

Found East Anglia, circa Autumn 2001.

Comparing this helmet with the one on the Cunobelin AE 
VA 1983, Derek Allen writes it is “an entirely different 
helmet, with animal-headed crest, a visor and neckpiece, 
whose affinities seem Roman rather than British”. Chris Rudd 
doubts this as he cannot find a Roman coin of the period 
which depicts this kind of helmet. He suspects that 
Cunobelin may have owned such a helmet and that the head on 
this bronze is his, as suggested by John Evans in 1864. 
A Roman cavalry helmet excavated near Market Harborough, 
Leics, in 2002, perhaps owned by a Corieltauvian prince, supports this hypothesis.

Used with permission of CNG (cngcoins.com).