Another coin being held for me until I'm able to pay (shouldn't be too long). My soon-to-be newest acquisition and probably my last purchase of the year. It will be my second Ostrogothic coin featuring the name of a reigning king, the other being my decanummium of Theodahad, Athalaric's successor. Like pretty much every other Ostrogothic coin, this type is very rare, even in this condition.
Really very little about him online. This (from Wikipedia) is the most I found in one place:
Quote:
Athalaric (516 - " 2 October 534) was the King of the Ostrogoths in Italy. He was a son of Eutharic and Amalasuntha. His maternal grandfather was Theoderic the Great. He succeeded his grandfather as king in 526.
As Athalaric was only ten years old, the regency was assumed by his mother, Amalasuntha. His mother attempted to provide for him an education in the Roman tradition, but the Gothic nobles pressured her to allow them to raise him as they saw fit. As a result, Athalaric drank heavily and indulged in vicious excesses, which ruined his constitution.
His mother, Amalasuntha, daughter of Theodoric the Great, has more recorded about her:
Quote:
Her husband died, apparently in the early years of her marriage, leaving her with two children, Athalaric and Matasuntha (c. 517 - " after 550), wife c. 550 of Germanus. On the death of her father in 526, her son succeeded him, but she held the power as regent for her son.
Quote:
Conscious of her unpopularity she banished, and afterwards put to death, three Gothic nobles whom she suspected of intriguing against her rule, and at the same time opened negotiations with the emperor Justinian I with the view of removing herself and the Gothic treasure to Constantinople. Her son's death in 534 made little change in the posture of affairs.
-Both from Wiki (
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Amalasuntha)More here:
http://jaysromanhistory.com/romeweb...nt/art31.htmAthalaric, Ostrogothic King of Italy (ruled 526-534 AD)
AE Decanummium
Obv: INVIC-TA ROMA, Roma helmeted, facing right
Rev: DN ATHAL-ARICVS, Athalaric, in military outfit, standing, holding spear and shield, SC across fields, X in left field
Rome mint (struck 526-534 AD)
Ref: BMC Vandals 69, COI 85b
If you'll notice, it has the letters SC (for Senatus Consultum) on the reverse, just like Roman coins of the early centuries AD. This was to show the renewed influence and prestige the Roman Senate regained under the Ostrogoths.
Posted 12/04/2013 2:36 pm
Definitely something I'd be interested in seeing!
