Camolodunum Geocoin

This is my secret santa geocoin 2008 and I'd like it to travel far and wide and meet many caches and cachers along the way.

Cunoblinus or Cunobelin, king of the Celtic Catuvellauni tribe in the East of Britain and famous as Shakespeare's Cymbeline, was in power in the years leading up to the second Roman invasion of Britain in 43AD. Although he died sometime before this invasion, he left his mark in the many coins that were minted in his name. Although he was of the Catuvellauni tribe, he also ruled the neighboring tribe of the Trinovantes, and their capital, Camulodunum where some of his coins were minted. Camulodunum is now the town of Colchester, Essex and images of Cunobelinus's coins are well-known and even publicly displayed (there's one image on the wall of an underpass!).

This geocoin is a combination of several different, but similar, designs that were minted at Camulodunum and features on the front the palm or laurel wreath that denotes a military victory, a horse that could possibly denote freedom, and the word CUNO, short for Cunobelinus. On the reverse is a stylized ear of wheat, denoting prosperity with the word CAMU, short for Camulodunum to either side of it.

The words CUNOBELIN and CAMULODUNUM have been added on the front and CAMULODUNUM and TRINOVANTES on the back to underline and emphasize the king, the mint, and the Celtic tribe whose capital the coins were minted in.

Camulodunum was named for the Celtic war god, Camulos, and is translated as 'fortress of Camulos'. It's importance did not diminish after the Roman invasion, becoming the site of the great Temple of Claudius and also one of the towns that Boudicca of the Iceni tribe targeted when she rebelled against Roman rule.

This coin is a tribute to the artistry and culture of the Celtic tribes of Britain and, hopefully, a way of continuing those fine traditions.