Athalaric. The Teenage Ostrogoth King

Witigis was a seasoned veteran of the Ostrogothic army and commander under King Theodoric. He was taken captive by the Byzantine general Belisarius and died in Constantinople in A.D. 342.



Witigis
A.D. 536- 539
Æ 10 Nummi (4.63g 15mm) Ravenna mint
INVICTA ROMA, helmeted bust of Roma right of fine style
D N/WIT/ICES/REX within wreath terminating in X.
Metlich 92

Amazing examples!

Very nice!

Fantastic!

I just got a coin that I have been waiting for years to get and it is the most Roman inspired coin produced by the Ostrogoths.



Theodahad
A.D. 534-536
AE Follis (40 nummi) (25mm 9.5g) Rome mint.
D N THEODA - HATVS REX; bust of Theodahad right wearing Spangenhelm and "ostrogothic" garment.
VICTORIA - PRINCIPV[M]; Victory standing on prow r., holding palm in left and wreath in right; across fields S- C.
MIB 81; MEC 141; COI 89b


On the obverse Theodahad looks very much like a Roman emperor and has a cross on his chest. The reverse is the very familiar Victory on a prow with S-C (SENATVS CONSVLTO) across the fields. Because of the S-C, this coin is often referred to as "the last sestertius"; though the Roman senate really had nothing to do with the issue.

here is a common Victory on prow coin issued during the reign of Constantine I



The reverse legend is a variation (spelling error) with PRINCIPV instead of PRICIPVM. The reverse legend of VICTORIA PRINCIPV (Victory of the Princes) is also very close to sounding like something a Roman would have on a coin, like the coin below with VICTORIAE LAETAE PRINC PERP legend which translates to Joyous victory of the eternal prince.



Constantine I
A.D. 318
AE nummus 18mm 2.9g
IMP CONSTANTINVS AVG; high crested helmet, cuir., spear across r. shoulder, shield with horseman leaping over fallen enemy.
VICTORIAE LAETAE PRINC PERP; two Victories stg., facing one another, together holding wreath inscribed VOT PR on altar.
in ex. BSIS star
RIC VII Siscia 50

Coins of Constantine I often depict him wearing a ridge helmet (see above coin); and a similar helmet was used later by Germanic kings. This Germanic helmet didn't have a plume or cheek flaps, but the type is still recognizable, especially the stars to the right and left of the cross-bar and was called a spangenhelm. As late as the seventh century, a helmet was used in place of a crown in the coronation of Egbert, a King of Kent who ruled from 664 to 673.

It's been a good week for Ostrogoths as I also added this coin to my trays this week--





Theodoric
A.D. 493- 526
AE 10 nummi (17mm 3.1g) Ravenna mint.
FELIX R-AVENNA; crowned and draped bust of Ravenna right.
REV: monogram of Ravenna with cross above, all within wreath.
MIB 72b; MEC 150; COI 78b

Must confess I entered the late Roman period quite late in the 'game'
The Ostrogoth period even later !

Ravenna Æ "Municipal" issue
15-17mm 2.52 grams
MEC 150

Obv FELIX RAVENNA
Crowned draped bust of Ravenna right
Rv Ravenna Monogram in wreath cross above







That really depends on when you start counting .....
Doesn't it ?
Not a popular opinion but ...
Here goes
The Roman Empire (like all empires) was nothing more than a protection racket
"Nice city you got
Shame if something were to happen to it ?"
By the fifth century a rather 'glorified' protection racket
Rule by the "Sopranos" really
When trouble came the empire came to the rescue .....
Around six months after the Barbarians had plundered your city and after they had 'raised' an army
Then they expected you to pay the 'freight' charges involved !
So your Germanic criminal invaders took 1/2 of what you had
Then when the relief finally came your 'Roman' rescuers would brake your fingers until you coughed up the remaining half of your buried treasure
(to pay expenses !)

Kings like "Theodoric the Great" were looked on with favor by contemporaries
The Barbarians delivered !
For a mere fraction of the cost they provided the prompt relief (days not months) which a corrupt empire could not and would not provide !
The Ostrogothic Kings were popular !
Modern personages like Queens Victoria and Elizabeth don't trace their lineage back to Caesar (or Justinian)
They were the the descendants of 'Great' Theodoric and company
The so-called Barbarian horsemen who replaced the Romans
The "Great" General Balisaurius ravaged and sacked Rome and its environs reducing the locals to a century of misery
The Islamic North African conquests are best explained by the fact the Byzantines (post Belisaurius) were literally taxing the togas off of the local land owners
North Africans waved a fond farewell to the Byzantine navy
"have a nice trip ... Say hello to the emperor !"
The "Saracens" provided the security needed
And at a mere fraction of the cost !
One should note that Islamic/Byzantine coinage replaced the later
Not much change ... different mint mark
For a hundred years Greek continued as the language of administration
Pay your taxes on time and everything was just 'peachy'

And now I will 'batten' down the hatches !