tour 2 of 5
People in Iron Age Britain
Gold coin in the name of Tincomarus
In the late first century BC, the rulers of
southern England began to put their names on their coins. These
coins represent the earliest evidence of the use of writing in
Britain. One of these kings, we now know, was called Tincomarus.
His name is legible on the back of this coin. TINCO can be clearly
seen above the horse, MA between the horse's legs and RVS
running anti-clockwise in front of the horse's head. The
name may mean something like 'big fish' in Ancient
British (a variety of Celtic language) or Insular Celtic. He was
the ruler of a kingdom centred on the modern counties of Hampshire
and Sussex.