Gelimer, Last King Of The Vandals And Alans

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Author	Replies: 12 / Views: 4,376
VisigothKing Pillar of the Community United States 4778 Posts	Posted 04/19/2014 02:55 am Thought I'd share this one for the one or two people on here that enjoy coins like these. I had been meaning to pick up another Vandal Kingdom coin but had been putting it off as my interest was directed towards other post-Roman Germanic coinage (mainly Ostrogothic - got 9 in the last year!) and more recently, early Italian Byzantine coinage. This is my first Vandal purchase in nearly a year and a half and my first struck in the name of one of their kings. And for me, its hard to say no to a monogram coin! Gelimer, Vandal Kingdom of North Africa (reigned 530-534 AD) AE Nummus Obv: Variation of GEIL or GEILAMIR , pearl-diademed, draped bust right Rev: Monogram of Gelimer within wreath Mint: Carthage(?), struck 530-534 AD Ref: MEC 1, 28-30; BMC Vandals 4-6, Very Rare (seller's photos) My edited version of the above, to highlight better the monogram: Gelimer's monogram: Report this Post to the Staff

VisigothKing Pillar of the Community United States 4778 Posts	Posted 04/19/2014 02:56 am Some historical background: The Vandals were a Germanic tribe originally from Scandinavia, and had, over the first few centuries AD, migrated to Hispania (Spain, where they absorbed the Alans - another migrating tribe - after the death of the Alan king) and later in the 430s AD had reached Roman North Africa. The Romans, not having the adequate resources or manpower during this time to completely dislodge any of the barbarian tribes encroaching further onto its shrinking territory, granted them the African territory they held. By conquest, the Vandals later took over further Roman territory, conquering Carthage in 439 AD. In 455 AD, for the second time in eight centuries, Rome was invaded and sacked by an enemy, this time by the Vandals. They had by now established themselves as a major Mediterranean player alongside the Western and Eastern Roman Empires and seemed here to stay after a combined effort in 467 AD by both empires to retake North Africa from them failed spectacularly. Fast forward to 530 AD. Through a coup, Gelimer (born 480 AD) came to power as the new king of the Vandal Kingdom. He had deposed the previous king and his cousin Hilderic, on account of Hilderic abandoning his Arian (not Aryan!) Christian faith (the main faith of the Vandal population) and converting to the Catholic Christianity followed mostly by the Roman population. Three years later, on the pretense of restoring Hilderic to the Vandal throne, Eastern Roman (Byzantine) emperor Justinian launched an invasion of the Vandal Kingdom while much of the kingdom's forces were fighting a rebellion in Vandal-held Sardinia (a revolt some claim Justinian covertly helped to instigate). Gelimer fought against them, but the Byzantines came out victorious (but were not able to save Hilderic, who had been executed on Gelimer's orders), and he surrendered. The former king was spared, however, and accepted an offer to live well in retirement in Galatia (in modern Turkey). Greatest extent of the Vandal Kingdom (in 526 AD): Edited by VisigothKing 04/19/2014 03:03 am Report this Post to the Staff
echizento Moderator United States 23731 Posts	Posted 04/19/2014 08:15 am VK I don't know how you find these coins. I imagine you hunt long and hard for them, I know I have not been able to find any. This is another very interesting addition to your collection. I always enjoy seeing them and reading your accounts of these obscure rulers. The Vandals had a sizeable kingdom, I didn't know that there rule extended to some of the islands in the Mediterranean. Report this Post to the Staff
Ancientnoob Pillar of the Community United States 5155 Posts	Posted 04/19/2014 6:34 pm Little, old, cruddy and history just oozing out of it what more could one want! Well played. I like this piece and ultimate rarity passed over by most but absolutely essential to a "Germanic collection" Fascinating history and the map brings the whole thing to life. A great read and a wonderful contribution. Newbies take heed, you might find one online but chances are its VK's pictures. Awesome! Cornering the market on Germanic coins is VK's specialty! Report this Post to the Staff
Ancientnoob Pillar of the Community United States 5155 Posts	Posted 04/20/2014 9:24 pm Back for a second look. Niceness! Report this Post to the Staff
xodus Valued Member United States 121 Posts	Posted 04/20/2014 10:14 pm I agree noob, I think that since the monogram (as it appears on the coin" looks fel temp so a lot of people just pass it by. Report this Post to the Staff
VisigothKing Pillar of the Community United States 4778 Posts	Posted 04/21/2014 02:08 am Thanks for the comments and glad you guys like the coin. Quote: The Vandals had a sizeable kingdom, I didn't know that there rule extended to some of the islands in the Mediterranean Yup, and on some of the most productive lands that had belonged to the Western Roman Empire. The decades-long conflict between the Vandals in Africa and the Romans later got the nickname "the Fourth Punic War". Quote: Cornering the market on Germanic coins is VK's specialty! Hardly at the moment, but I'm trying Quote: I agree noob, I think that since the monogram (as it appears on the coin" looks fel temp so a lot of people just pass it by. They can continue to pass it by . That's one reason why I can get these rarities usually for less than they earn at auction. Edited by VisigothKing 04/21/2014 02:11 am Report this Post to the Staff
chrsmat71 Pillar of the Community United States 4981 Posts	Posted 04/21/2014 12:40 pm i know I commented elsewhere, but let me thumbs up again. Report this Post to the Staff
echizento Moderator United States 23731 Posts	Posted 04/21/2014 1:10 pm Do these even appear in un-cleaned lots? I was never lucky to find any in all the lots I've gone through. Report this Post to the Staff
MetDet71 Pillar of the Community United Kingdom 1570 Posts	Posted 04/21/2014 6:28 pm When you get that in hand could you post pics again please, looking and looking but can not for the life of me make out the monogram You will never soar like an eagle if you hang around with turkeys..... Report this Post to the Staff
VisigothKing Pillar of the Community United States 4778 Posts	Posted 04/22/2014 02:07 am Of course Already planned on it, because the seller's photos aren't exactly great and, not to too my own horn but I know I can do way better in highlighting this rare coin. Thanks chrsmat! Quote: Do these even appear in un-cleaned lots? I was never lucky to find any in all the lots I've gone through. You aren't the only one not finding these often. These were lost easily and most surviving minis like these are of the more common ones (like Honorius, Arcadius, leo, marcian) of course. I have a friend that cleans minis coins and he's told me that of all the coins he's cleaned so far, only around 30% were identifiable, so with such few id-able coins to begin with, finding rarities is even tougher I'd imagine. Despite this, cleaning minis is something I want to get into eventually. Edited by VisigothKing 04/22/2014 02:07 am Report this Post to the Staff
VisigothKing Pillar of the Community United States 4778 Posts	Posted 04/22/2014 02:31 am Gelimer is actually not my first coin mentioning or having the name of a Germanic ruler. I have a few others (all are extremely rare): (This coin is of Libius Severus, Western Roman emperor close to the fall of Rome. This type, on the reverse, has the monogram of Ricimer, the barbarian Master of Soldiers of the Western Roman Army at the time) Libius Severus, Western Roman Empire AE nummus Obv: DN LIBIVS SEVERVS PF AVG, pearl-diademed, draped bust right Rev: Monogram of Ricimer within wreath Mint: Rome, struck 461-467 AD (Libius Severus reigned 461-465 AD) Ref: RIC X 2715 9 mm wide Athalaric, Ostrogothic Kingdom AE Decanummium Obv: INVICT-A ROMA, Roma helmeted, facing right Rev: DN ATHAL-ARICVS, Athalaric, in military outfit, standing, holding spear and shield, S-C across fields, X in left field Mint: Rome, struck 526-534 AD Ref: BMC 69, COI 85b Athalaric (in the name of Justinian I), Ostrogothic Kingdom AE nummus Obv: IVSTINIANI (or similar legend), pearl diademed, cuirassed bust right Rev: Monogram of Athalaric within wreath Mint: Rome, struck 526-534 AD Ref: BMC 49 7 mm wide Theodahad, Ostrogothic Kingdom AE Decanummium Obv: INVICT-A ROMA, Roma helmeted, facing right Rev: DN/THEODA/HATHVS/REX within wreath, X below Mint: Rome, struck 534-536 AD Ref: COI 90 Baduila, Ostrogothic Kingdom AE Decanummium Obv: DN BADV-ILA REX, crowned, draped, bust facing Rev: DN B/ADV/ELA/REX in four lines within wreath Mint: Rome, struck 550-552 AD Ref: MIB 89a Louis the Pious, Frankish (Carolingian) Empire AR Denier Obv: + HLVDOVVICVS IMP, legend around cross in circle Rev: + METALLVM, legend around cross in circle Mint: Metallum, struck 819-822 AD Ref: MEC 762 Louis the Pious, Frankish (Carolingian) Empire AR Denier Obv: + HLVDOVVICVS IMP, legend around cross in circle Rev: + XPISTIANA RELIGIO, legend around temple, cross in temple Mint: Unknown, struck 822-840 AD Ref: MEC 794 Charles the Bald, Frankish (Carolingian) Empire AR Obol Obv: Monogram of Charles Rev: [+ M]ETVLLO around cross in circle Mint: Metallum, struck 840-877 AD Ref: MG 1060 Edited by VisigothKing 04/22/2014 1:07 pm Report this Post to the Staff
MetDet71 Pillar of the Community United Kingdom 1570 Posts	Posted 04/22/2014 05:17 am Some interesting stuff, thanks for sharing those I have a small lot of smaller stuff that I have never done anything with, one or two do look interesting but for me getting the i.d would probably take forever, I will dig them out and post a few pics later. You will never soar like an eagle if you hang around with turkeys..... Report this Post to the Staff
	Replies: 12 / Views: 4,376

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