representing the Theban Sphiiix. 7 



in aid of our argument is, that we meet with the same figure 

 repeatedly upon the coins of Cunobelin. 



This illustrious British prince * had, according to Dion Cas- 

 sius, his royal seat at Camulodunum ; and more of his coins are 

 found at and near to Colchester, than in any other part of the 

 island. Of the three here given, Nos. 1 and 2 have been 

 already published; No, 3 is now, I believe, for the first time, 

 presented to the public : the original is in the possession of 

 Mr. William Keymer, of Colchester, where it was found about 

 twenty-five years ago. I possess also a small brass coin of Cu- 

 nobelin, found at the same place in 1819 : it is in a bad state of 

 preservation, but bears upon both sides a very striking resem- 

 blance to No. 3 ; yet mine appears to have had the wheel under 

 the right paw of the sphinx, as we find exhibited in Gem, 

 No. 206 of Agostini, in No. Ill of Tassie, and elsewhere. This 

 addition No. 3, from the action of its sphinx, may have also 

 had, but it seems to have suffered corrosion upon that part. 



Cunobelin is said to have cherished a friendship for the Ro- 

 mans, to have attended Augustus in his wars, and so well to 

 have behaved himself, that he grew into particular favour with 

 that emperor, and accompanied him to Rome, where he was 

 saluted by the title of Friend to the Republic : moreover, that 

 during his residence there, Tenuant (his father, and immediate 

 predecessor on the Trinobantine throne,) paid no tribute f. 



The attachment for the Roman emperor, at least the politic 

 respect which our great British chief I might have entertained, 

 or merely put forth, in regard to his powerful protector, may be 

 in some measure estimated by the appearance of the head of 

 Augustus impressed upon the coins of Cunobelin § ; who, as 

 Mr.Pegge writes, "omitted no opportunity of making his court 

 to that emperor." We find also some notices in Suetonius, of 

 the continued friendship that appears to have subsisted between 

 * Dion L. 60. 



t See Uktor;/ of Colchester by Morant ; who in this matter, does in common 

 with other respectable writers, give credit to Geoffrey of Monmouth. 

 t Or as Baxter styles him, the I'emlragwi. Closs. Vo. Cunobeliims. 

 § Fegge on his rijth Class, No. 1. Also Rudinpt's Annals, v. 1, p. 2()8, an 

 V. 5, pp. 13—17. 



