THE PREHISTORIC PERIOD No. 24 represents a remarkable coin, the type of which has been known since the days of Camden, some 260 years ago. The device of the two interlacing squares on the obverse is almost identical with that on some of the copper coins of Verulamium, while the legend VI R or VER beneath the horse on the reverse seems conclusively to prove that it was issued from the mint of that town. It must, however, be admitted that the type of the interlacing square is also found on a small silver coin of Verica, a son of Commius the Atrebatian. The legend DIAS on the obverse suffices, notwithstanding, to settle the question of attribution, as it occurs in conjunction with the name TASC on the copper coins of Verulamium, PL ii., Nos. 7, 8. The finding, moreover, of the coin here engraved must not be left out of consideration. It was dug up near Harlow, on the borders of Herts and Essex. As to the meaning of DIAS it is difficult to offer a conjecture. Its occurrence on coins inscribed also TASC seems to show that it is not merely a variant of the beginning of the name Tasciovanus. Of its being in some manner connected with the city of Verulamium or its rulers there can be no doubt, but the nature of the connection has still to be discovered. It will be noticed that the usual weight of a well preserved silver coin of Tasciovanus is from 18 to 21 1 grains, or approximately the same weight as the smaller denomination of his gold coins. There is, however, a small variety of the coin, No. 14, which weighs less than 12 grains, and which may therefore have been intended to pass current as the half of the larger and more common silver coins. As to the pro- portionate value of silver, gold and copper among the ancient Britons nothing can safely be asserted. It may be remarked that the weight of the Roman denarius of the first century, of which examples are occasionally found with hoards of British coins, is about 60 grains. The native coins may therefore have been of the value of one third of the denarius. The whole of the coins shown in Plate ii. were in all probability minted at Verulamium. Though classed as copper, some few of them were struck on blanks of yellow brass. The type of the two interlacing squares, of which varieties appear on Nos. I, 2, 3, is, as already re- marked, closely connected with that on the obverse of the silver coin reading DIAS, PL i., No. 24. On No. i the name of the town is given in the locative case VERLAMIO, ' at Verulam,' in the same manner as on some copper coins of Cunobelinus, the name of his capital town is given on a double tablet as CAMVLODVNO, * at Camulodunum.' The connection with the cruciform ornament deve- loped from the laureate head of Apollo can be traced in the obverse type of No. 4. The obverse type of No. 5 with two heads side by side still requires elucidation. It is worthy of remark that on the first six coins in the plate there are representations of all the chief domesticated animals the bull, horse, boar, ram and goat. These are suggestive of the country being rich in flocks and herds. On the other coins the types seem to be more indicative of contact with Roman civilization. J 241 R
