The Melbourne Numismatic Society’s first meeting for 2018 will be held on Thursday 8th February. The topic for discussion will be “A new numismatic item or something old”. I wonder who will bring the newest, a coin , medal or note from 2018? Or who will bring the oldest such as a coin of King Caratacus like that shown here. As usual please feel free to bring along any new acquisitions to tell us about and enjoy a coffee, biscuit and chat at the end of the meeting.
Despite the silly song about the ladies of his court there really was a King Caratacus. He ruled the British Celtic tribe called the Catavellauni during the first half of the first century AD. This coin, auctioned by Downies in 2015, is a silver unit with a head of Hercules and the letters CARA on the obverse. The reverse shows an eagle standing on a snake.