Verica Stater: Sunken Tablet (obverse); Horse and Rider (Cleveland Museum of Art 1969.146)
Record status
Individual type · partial
Period
c. 10–40 CE
Verica was the youngest son of Commius. He is identified as the Bericus whom the historian Sion Cassius refers to as being in exile, and appealing to Claudius for help.
Commius was king of the Atrebates. When Caesar was planning his first visit to Britain, some Britons sent him envoys with offers of hostages and allegiance to Rome. Caesar received them favorably and retained no hostages but sent Commius and his high commissioner with instructions to persuade the Britons to ally themselves with Rome, and to expect Caesar in person in a few weeks time. This took place in 55 BC. It is therefore possible that Verica was either born fairly late in his father's life or that he was illegitimate.
However that may be, his reign can with reasonable accuracy be placed as being in the first and second quarters of the first century AD. Cleveland Museum of Art object 1969.146: Verica Stater: Sunken Tablet (obverse); Horse and Rider (reverse), c. 10–40 CE. England. Gold; diameter: 1.7 cm (11/16 in.). Inscribed: "COM F"; VIR REX. Details are those of this museum object; how far it represents a wider type has not been independently verified.
Evidence at a glance
- Linked sources
- 1
- Photograph views
- 3
- Catalogue references
- 0
Counts describe this entry’s documentation, not authenticity, rarity or completeness. Photographs may show one specimen; check each caption and licence.
Historical context
Verica was king just before the conquest of Britain by the Romans.
Physical characteristics
- Materials
- gold
- Dimensions
- Diameter: 1.7 cm (11/16 in.)
- Measurements
- Diameter: 1.7 cm (11/16 in.)
- Material and technique
- gold
Design
- Inscriptions
- "COM F"; VIR REX
Identification
- Date recorded
- c. 10–40 CE
- Culture period
- England
- Holding institution
- Cleveland Museum of Art
- Museum object number
- 1969.146
- Published references
- Cleveland Museum of Art, and Emery May Norweb. English Gold Coins, Ancient to Modern Times, On Loan to the Cleveland Museum of Art from the Norweb Collection. 1968. pp. 5 Emery May Norweb Collection (Cleveland, Ohio), Emery May Norweb, C. E. Blunt, F. Elmore Jones, and R. P. Mack. Collection of Ancient British, Romano-British and English Coins. London: Spink, 1971. pp. 17-18
- Museum classification
- Coins
Documentation checklist
- Denomination
- Research required
- Issue or mint date
- Recorded
- Material
- Recorded
- Weight
- Research required
- Mint or printer
- Research required
- Mint or printer mark
- Research required
- Catalogue reference
- Research required
- Attached photograph (check rights)
- Recorded
Recorded means a field is present, not independently verified. Read its wording, supporting source and the entry’s confidence level.
Catalogue references
No catalogue numbers recorded. Numbers are only published once transcribed from a verified edition of a standard catalogue — they are never inferred.
Research required
- Research required: this record describes a single museum object; confirm the wider coin type and standard catalogue references (e.g. SNG, RPC, RIC) against numismatic literature.