| Author |
 Replies: 8 / Views: 2,038 |
|
|
New Member
Brazil
15 Posts |
I am trying to learn about imitative coins of the Vandals. I found imitative coins in this case to be much more interesting than the authentic types - Vandals and other barbarians vandalizing the roman currency system. However, info on the subject is scarce... according to some topics on this forum, we dont know for sure if the imitative coins were made by the Vandals or just some other barbarian tribe. Can anyone comment on the modern knowledge about this topic? Are there genuine vandalic imitative coins? For example, I found a seller offering these on vcoins. Vandals are mentioned, but are they really vandalic? Imitating what, Honorius?   |
|
|
|
Pillar of the Community
United States
1554 Posts |
A century ago, Warwick Wroth attributed certain late Roman imitations in the BM having African, Sicilian and Italian provenance to the "Vandalic Period". Today, Wroth's attributions are treated skeptically by scholars and as gospel in the trade. Caveat emptor.
Edited by Kushanshah
02/20/2019 12:04 am
|
|
Pillar of the Community
United States
6130 Posts |
Barbarous coins of any type are tricky. I prefer to lump all late imitations with the German term Volkerwanderung AKA Migration Period. In a span of about 150 years, we have an influx of historically Eastern European and Central Asian people who are suddenly flooding across the Roman Empire with no real goal or destination. Unless an imitative was found in a Vandal site in association with Vandal coins, I'd just call it barbarous. There are unambiguously Vandal coins out there, but without a literate legend or unique design, some of those can be tricky as well. Case in point:  This coin came from a major auction house in a lot of mostly Vandal and early Byzantine coins. Style and provenance suggest it is probably Hilderic. But does the legend end in -REX? It doesn't. Is it Hilderic? Maybe. How about this one, same lot:  |
|
Pillar of the Community
United States
3439 Posts |
I think the Vandal attribution from the seller is closer to an educated guess on their part
The Ostrogoths made reasonably identifiable coins and their "hill billy" cousins the Gepids made identifiable copies
Usually with backwards retrograde blundered legends
They weren't the sharpest tools in the shed
The ones they like to attribute to the Vandals seem to be those that have legends composed of 90% letter I with a few X's and V's thrown in for style
The Vandals are simply assumed to be a bunch of illiterate Germanic rubes on an extended North African vacation
They did have a successful go of it for around 100 years
So they could not have been entirely dim witted
But records are very sparse for their era
|
|
Pillar of the Community
United States
3439 Posts |
I am guessing a "barbaric" helmeted Constantine Æ 3.94 grams 18-19mm   Its likely too early for most of the later wanderers like the Vandals Who made it ? Early Danube Ostrogothic ? Probably ...... Could be ....... Maybe If anyone can make heads or tails of the legend let me know ! I know we have at least one "fellow" about here who can read the unreadable |
|
New Member
 Brazil
15 Posts |
So the opinion here is that there is no way to know for sure if a "imitative" coin is really vandalic.
Better go with their unique designs then. That's a pity, they are from later period when they where not being the nastier vandalists around Europe anymore. An imitative issue has such a symbolistic meaning.
But anyway, what are the unique design elements that make we sure of dealing with a vandalic coin? Other than the inscription, are the palm trees on a nummus unique? And those with the monogram "A", are there other counterparts?
|
|
Pillar of the Community
United States
1554 Posts |
Edited by Kushanshah
02/21/2019 01:43 am
|
|
New Member
Brazil
15 Posts |
Ah, a free book, thank you.
Edited by MauroM
02/21/2019 9:25 pm
|
|
New Member
Brazil
15 Posts |
Iafter reading the Vandals chapter by Wroth, I see He was very careful about the smaller (and cheaper) bronze coins. The only coin that he risked a more accurate diagnosis is the coins with an A monogram (he attributed to Hilderic), but even that is cast in doubt - he mentions that maybe the general Basilicus did the coins after defeating the Vandals in Cartago, altough much less probable.
Thank you all for the opinions and advice.
Edited by MauroM
02/21/2019 9:26 pm
|
| |
Replies: 8 / Views: 2,038 |
|
Posted 02/20/2019 01:37 am
