Coin or stater of Tincomarus
Late Iron Age (about 25BC to 10AD)
Coin reverse showing a horseman poising a javelin and charging right with a six pointed star above
This gold stater of Tincomarus was found in a garden in Emmer Green, Reading. The obverse side is inscribed TINC and the reverse shows a horseman poising with a javelin and charging right, with a six pointed star above.
Tincomarus was a king of the Iron Age Belgic tribe of the Atrebates who lived in southern central Britain. His name was previously reconstructed as Tincommius, but since 1996 coins have been discovered which give his full name.
Based on the imagery used on his coins, it has been argued that Tincomarus may have been brought up as an obses (diplomatic hostage) in Rome in the early years of Augustus's reign.Tincomarus was expelled by his subjects for unknown reasons around 8AD and fled to Rome as a refugee and supplicant.
The Atrebates kingdom was centred on Calleva (now Silchester) that later became a large Roman town. This coin was found at Emmer Green, Caversham in 1936, just to the north of the River Thames which was the northern boundary of the Atrebates territory.
Museum object number
See related topic: Reading's Archaeology
See related topic: Money and Medals