Was Britain’s King Verica a Woman?

A re-examination of 2,000-year-old ancient British coins has sparked a debate about the identity of Verica, a ruler linked to Rome’s invasion of Britain in A.D. 43. Archaeologist Miles Russell suggests that Verica, traditionally identified as a king, may have been a woman. 

In the first half of the 1st century A.D., Verica ruled the Atrebates community in southern Britain. When Verica lost power due to regional conflicts, he (or she) sought help from Emperor Claudius. Historian Cassius Dio’s work Roman History, written 160 years after the Roman invasion, mentions an exiled Briton named Bericus who convinced Claudius to send troops to the island. Historians generally accept that Bericus and Verica were the same person, making Verica a key figure in the political background of Rome’s conquest of Britain.

One piece of evidence Russell presents in support of his theory is the depiction of mounted warriors on coins struck in Verica’s name. The researcher states that the physical characteristics of some figures could be interpreted as female. However, the presence of a female figure on the coins does not prove that Verica was a woman, as human figures on Iron Age coins were not always portraits of the rulers who minted them—characters representing political authority, military power, or mythological beings were also popular. 

The coins’ Latin inscriptions are also up for interpretation. Researchers have traditionally explained the abbreviation COM F, seen on some examples, as Commios filius, meaning “son of Commios.” Russell argues that the same letters could also mean Commios filia, or “daughter of Commios.” The abbreviation does not reveal the gender distinction between the two words. The title REX is another part of the debate. While it typically means “king,” Russell suggests it may have been used for female allied rulers as well, calling for a reassessment of the traditional interpretation.

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