64 BRITISH AND ROMANO-BRITISH COINS. 



Denarius, A.D. 210. 

 5. O. SEVERVS. PI VS. AVG. BRIT. Laureate head to 



right. 



R. VICTORLE. BRIT. Victory seated on shields, to 

 left ; supporting a shield with right hand, the left 

 holds a palm branch. [Plate No. 5.] 



There is a stern reality about the association of Severus with 

 Britain ; a death struggle with Albinus, then Governor of the 

 island and an aspirant for the Principate, marked the opening of 

 a strenuous reign. When already past middle life the Emperor, 

 accompanied by his sons Geta and Caracalla, crossed over from 

 Gaul to put down a rising rebellion, and for three long years 

 waged successful war against the barbarians of North Britain. 

 Spartian, writing at the end of the third century, says that the 

 title of Britannicus was granted to the old war-lord in respect of 

 the great wall, which was then rebuilt and strengthened, and 

 which still stands astride the neck of Northumbria. Severus 

 died at York in A.D. 211, leaving his empire to " my Antonines," 

 as he pathetically styles his two sons. 



The second brass coin came to Mr. Burden from one of the 

 finds near Blandford ; the denarius hails from Fordington, and 

 shows the debased silver which was introduced during this reign. 



CARACALLA, A.D. 211 TO 217. 



First-brass, or Sestertius, A.D. 211. 

 6. 0. M. AVREL. ANTONINVS. PIVS. AVG. BRIT. 



Laureate head to right. 

 R. VICT. BRIT. TR. P. XIIII. COS III. In ex : SC. 



Victory erecting a trophy, her left foot upon a 

 helmet ; a female captive standing, another seated 

 on the ground. (The standing figure may represent 

 Britain.) Nineteenth century deep draining revealed 

 this expressive example of third century art. [Plate 

 No. 6.] 



