Page:Archaeological Journal, Volume 1.djvu/200

182 of the whole Britannia series are the second brass of Pius, reading on the reverse, round a female figure seated in a dejected position on a rock with shield and standard,

The reign of Commodus, during which the Caledonians invaded and ravaged the north of Britain, afforded opportunities to that emperor for recording upon medals and coins the successes of his legions, whose victories also gave him a pretext for taking the name of Britannicus, although he never visited the province in person. There are three or four medallions of this emperor relating to Britain, a variety of which is given below. On the obverse his titles commence, and are continued on the reverse, on which is represented a Victory seated on a heap of arms, inscribing on a shield (Victoria Britannica): before her a trophy.

The coins of Severus, and his sons Caracalla and Geta, afford the author ample scope for a dissertation on the events connected with their visit to Britain and their military operations in it. The following coin is one of many varieties relating to this important period in the Romano-British history. It is of Geta, and in second brass: the reverse presents a Victory seated on shields, holding a palm-branch, and a shield resting on her knee; legend,. It will be observed there is a change in the orthography of the word Britannia: for this alteration Mr. Akerman gives some pertinent reasons.

From the reign of Caracalla to that of Diocletian and Maximian, no Roman coins have been found bearing direct allusion to Britain. During the reign of these emperors, however, we find a new and extensive series of coins struck in Britain, and affording curious and valuable information relative to