126 PROBABLE DATE OF THE ROMAN OCCUPATION 



be ratlier the exception than the rule. The point to be 

 borne in mind is that any individual example may happen 

 to be the exception. With this reservation, it will suffice 

 to recapitulate the dates of the Melandra coins. The 

 following dates are certain : — Galba (coin struck in Spain), 

 68a.d. ; Domitian, 95-6; Trajan, 100 and 109; Hadrian 

 (Jewish coin), 132-5; Alexander Severus, 231-5; Pos- 

 tumus, 259-269; Carausius, 286-293; and Magnus 

 Maximus, 383-8. Besides these there are a few less 

 definitely assignable : two " dupondii," probably first 

 century " from general appearance " ; one " dupondius," 

 possibly Hadrian ; one " dupondius," first or second 

 century; one "sestertius," probably second century, 

 Hadrian or Antoninus Pius ; one small bronze coin, fourth 

 century " from the size and style of the head " (post- 

 Constantinian).'' The evidence of these coins, taken on its 

 surface value, would indicate an occupation begun in the 

 second half of the first century, probably towards its close, 

 and continued till towards the middle of the second, and 

 another occupation from the latter half of the third 

 century till towards the close of the fourth. 



We have seen ^ that Ostorius Scapula was recalled from 

 his Welsh campaign (circa 51 a.d.) by trouble with the 

 Brigantes. Seneca ^ attributes a complete conquest of 

 this tribe to the Emperor Claudius, but this is obviously 

 an exaggeration. The first serious campaign undertaken 

 against them was that of Petilius Cerealis, who took up 

 the governorship of Britain in 70 a.d. " He attacked 

 (aggressus) the state of the Brigantes, which is reckoned 



7. The dates here given are based upon an examination of the coins 

 by the British Museum Authorities (see p. 96). [Dr. Grueber gave me 

 orally his own rough general estimate of the average life of a Roman 

 coin (outside hoards) as 15 years. — Ed.] 



8. Supra, p. 115. 



9. Sen., Apoloc. Claud., 12, 13—17; [quoted p. 138, inf.]. 



