Celtic Britain and the beginnings of money in Britain

Celtic warrior — A lone redhead individual Scottish viking sword wielding warrior man on a moor

Part 1: City of London from abundance to debt

The Celtics were warriors and hunter gatherers who preferred to live in tribes, they also had an elite class known as Druids who were held esteemed positions in society like law makers, priests, doctors and who would sometimes be able to step into bring tribes together in times of need.

The forests, rivers and animals provided an abundance for the Celtic people which was soon to attract envious eyes of empire builders from the mainlands.

Long before the Romans invaded, The Phoenicians were already trading in the 4th – 2nd century BC. Tin was fast becoming an important resource because of it’s use in bronze making which was highly prized in the Mediterranean.

Later the Romans followed suit and found their way to trade with Britain too. The Celts preferred to Barter but soon came to the benefits of the Roman’s coins, at first it seemed alien but soon they could see how this Money made more complex transactions easier. Money trading was not to become common practice among the Celts but it was increasingly being adopted in foreign trade.

Exotic imports were highly desired and so Celtic merchants naturally vyed for them leading to competition for resources that would also lead to violence and even robbery which in turn lead to building of more Celtic fortification as distrust grew among them.

The Romans in the meantime came to know what they had suspected about England, it was rich land with many resources and pursued military conquest. Caesar made two expeditions in 55 and 54BC, the second more serious but was driven back due to increasing pressures from Gaul. It was not until AD 43 that Claudius was to succeed in a full scale Roman invasion and after learning from Caesars’ extensive notes from his discoveries of this mysterious land and its celtic people.

Once conquered, more Romans and merchants entered Britain, The celts were also being assimilated into the Roman way of things. War subsided and in it’s stead trade and money spread to new populations and a demand for Roman products increased exponentially and for Roman coin.

References

Celtic Society and Economy

Celtic Trade and Barter Systems: The Celtic preference for barter over currency is explored in Celtic Economy and Trade (Roman Britain), which details how southern tribes gradually adopted Roman coinage for imported goods57.
Proto-Money: The use of proto-money, including bronze axeheads, rings, and bells, as a precursor to coinage is discussed in Celtic Currency of Britain (Wikipedia), emphasizing its role in day-to-day transactions4.
Hierarchy and Druids: The role of Druids as law-makers, priests, and mediators is highlighted in Celtic Society (Roman Britain), which describes their exemption from taxes and military service3.

Trade Networks and Early Coinage

Phoenician Trade (4th–2nd Century BCE): The Phoenicians’ role in early British trade, particularly tin exports for bronze-making, is covered in Celtic Economy and Trade (Roman Britain)5.
Iron Bars and Early Coins: Iron bars used as currency before coin minting began around 100 BCE are detailed in Celtic Currency of Britain (Wikipedia)4.
Continental Celtic Coinage: The influence of Greek coins on Celtic minting practices is discussed in Getting Started with Celtic Coins (Collecting Ancient Coins)12.

Roman Influence

Roman Trade Links: Diplomatic ties between British tribes and Roman traders prior to the Claudian invasion are explored in The Tribes Trade with Rome (Roman Britain), with evidence of Roman goods found in tribal graves14.
Roman Coin Adoption: Southern tribes’ transition from barter to Roman currency is analyzed in Economic Changes the Romans Brought to Britain (Roman Britain), highlighting the unification of trade under Roman rule11.
Caesar’s Expeditions (55–54 BCE): Julius Caesar’s early invasions and their impact on British tribal politics are covered in How Did Caesar’s Invasion Affect Britain? (Roman Britain)14.

Cultural Impacts

Coin Designs and Tribal Identity: Celtic coins featuring stylized horses and tribal symbols are discussed in Celtic Coinage (World History Encyclopedia), emphasizing their use for local trade and prestige rather than interregional commerce6.
Fortifications and Tribal Conflict: Increased competition for resources leading to tribal fortifications is highlighted in Trade in Ancient Celtic Europe (World History Encyclopedia)8.