2022 BOUDICA from “Woman Warrior” Series; 2 Ounce Antiqued Silver Coin; $5 Niue

Description

Metal                    Silver

Purity                   0.999

Weight                 62,2 g (2 Troy oz)

Diameter              45 mm

Attributes            High Relief, Antique Finish, Partial Gold Plating, Wood Insert

Mintage                555

Packaging            Presentation Box and CoA

The Roman chroniclers Tacitus and Dion Cassius describe Boudica as a warrior with long red hair, great intelligence, and great charisma. Tall and strong, with a stern look and an authoritative voice. She was the proud queen of the Iceni, a tribe settled in East Anglia, in the area now comprising the regions of Norfolk and Suffolk. Her name means Victory in the Celtic language and she was the warlord who led the rebellion against Rome.

Born into an aristocratic family, Boudica was soon married to the king of the Iceni, Prasutago. The kingdom had been a client or ally of Rome during the invasion of the time of Emperor Claudius, around the year 43. In return, the king had signed a pact declaring the Roman emperor as co-heir to the Icenian kingdom. Prasutago and Boudica had only female offspring. For the Iceni, any of their daughters could take the crown after the king’s death, but the Romans only contemplated succession by male lineage.

When Prasutago died without male offspring, Rome acted as if it had annexed the land and did not recognize the sovereign’s daughters as legitimate heirs. The dead king had ruled by borrowing and his unpayable debt was passed on to his subjects. Bankrupt, the Romans ravaged bordering villages for their tribute and resorted to ferocious pillaging and extreme violence.