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Pillar of the Community
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900 Posts |
I just got this coin from the Ostrogothic ruler Athalaric (A.D. 526- 534). He became ruler of the Ostrogoths at age 10, after the death of his grandfather Theodoric the Great. His mother actually ran the kingdom. Athalaric was rumored to party and drink heavily as a teenager and passed away from an illness at around 18 years old; maybe from diabetes. So not much of a ruler; but his coinage is awesome.  Athalaric. A.D. 526- 534 Æ Decanummium (1/100th pound fine style) (18mm 3.2g) Rome mint. INVICTA ROMA, helmeted and cuirassed (Gorgon? on chest) bust of Roma right. D N ATALARICVS S-C, Athalaric in military attire, standing right and holding spear, X (mark of value) in field. COI 85b; MIB 77; MEC 132. I collect Ostrogothic coinage because it is actually a continuation of late Roman coinage. The obverse of this coin has Roma with the legend of INVICTA ROMA (undefeated Rome). The reverse has S-C (SENATVS CONSVLTO) across the fields which means this coin was approved by the senate; just like previous Roman coinage. Athalaric even uses the title D N (DOMINVS NOSTER) which means "our Lord" which first appeared on abdication issues of Diocletian and Maximianus. This coin also has an alternate spelling of ATALARICVS, leaving out the H of Athalaric's name. This coin is an upgrade of an example I already had in my collection. The new one, even holed, is in much better condition and is in finer style. Metlich (The Coinage of Ostrogothic Italy) even differentiates between "coarse style" (85a) and "fine style" (85b) Here is my other example of "coarse style". In 1920, it sold for $4.50; which is a little over $70 today.  Michael Metlich The Coinage of Ostrogothic Italy (2004) Wolfgang Hahn Moneta Imperii Byzantini volume I (1973) Philip Grierson Medieval European Coinage vol I (1986) Edited by Victor
12/05/2025 3:33 pm
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Moderator
United States
34393 Posts |
Amazing remaining detail on that Decanummium @vic. I too have a few Ostrogoth coins, but the reference I have mostly been replying on is Demo's "Ostrogothic Coinage from Collections in Croatia, Slovenia, Bosnia, and Herzegovina". Any thoughts on how this book matches up against Metlich's? Do they just cover the same coinage, but minted from different areas of the empire?
"If you climb a good tree, you get a push."
-----Ghanaian proverb
"The danger we all now face is distinguishing between what is authentic and what is performed."
-----King Adz
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Pillar of the Community
 United States
900 Posts |
I also have Demo's book but I prefer Metlich's. They both cover the same material; but I find Metlich is easier to use and is more often cited. I cite Demo on my bibliography page, though it is probably the last reference I would check. https://constantinethegreatcoins.com/Germans/ |
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Moderator
United States
187446 Posts |
Nice examples!  |
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Moderator
United States
34393 Posts |
kk @vic, thx for that comparison. Seems like I need to add Metlich to my Christmas list!
"If you climb a good tree, you get a push."
-----Ghanaian proverb
"The danger we all now face is distinguishing between what is authentic and what is performed."
-----King Adz
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Pillar of the Community
 United States
7933 Posts |
Interesting coins.
I'm gradually working my way back in time from Carolingians, having just acquired my first 7th century coin.
Not sure I will ever hit the 6th century given my collecting themes, but alwyas nice to learn.
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Moderator
United States
34393 Posts |
I've only got three of them @tdz, but they are kinda fun!
"If you climb a good tree, you get a push."
-----Ghanaian proverb
"The danger we all now face is distinguishing between what is authentic and what is performed."
-----King Adz
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Pillar of the Community
United States
900 Posts |
Quote:
Seems like I need to add Metlich to my Christmas list! You should check out Grierson and Blackburn Medieval European Coinage vol I (1986) abbreviated as MEC. This book covers the Early Middle Ages 5-10th century; so you get Vandals,Ostrogoths, Visigoths, Franks, Lombards, Anglo Saxons, Carolingians, and it ends with Anglo Saxon and Viking. It has a lot of historical background also. I would say it is the single best resource for this period. |
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Moderator
United States
34393 Posts |
That is a great tip @vic. I got MEC I back in 2013, but picked up Demo's book more recently (2017). Grierson's book is amazing.
"If you climb a good tree, you get a push."
-----Ghanaian proverb
"The danger we all now face is distinguishing between what is authentic and what is performed."
-----King Adz
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Pillar of the Community
United States
900 Posts |
Here's some Ostrogothic municipal coinage struck during the reigns of Theodoric and Athalaric in Rome  Ostrogoths, Municipal Coinage Æ 40 Nummi. (25mm 13.4g) Rome, AD 526-534. INVICTA ROMA, draped bust of Roma to right, wearing crested helmet, pendant earring and necklace / She-wolf standing to left, head turned back to watch the two infants Romulus and Remus suckling; XL (mark of value) above, •||||• in exergue. MEC 93-5; COI 82a  Ostrogoths, Municipal Coinage Æ 40 Nummi (24mm 11.3g). Struck during the reigns of Theodoric and Athalaric in Rome, circa AD 493-553. INVICTA ROMA, helmeted bust of Roma right / Eagle with raised wings standing left, head right; XL upwards to left; •Δ• in exergue. MEC 101; COI 76b; MIB I 74a; Demo 42.  Ostrogoths, Municipal Coinage Æ 20 Nummi (23x24mm 6.5gm) A.D. 493- 553. Rome mint. INVICTA ROMA, helmeted and draped bust of Roma right. REV: Palm tree; to left and right, eagle standing outward, heads facing inward; in ex. •XX•. MEC 110; COI 83 (Athalaric) |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
1120 Posts |
Victor those are some great examples. I always wondered how the Western Empire would have evolved if it weren't for the Gothic War. I'm sure they would have been a lot better off. I have these coins in my collection:  ATHALARIC 20 nummi (21-22 mm, 4.77 gm) OBV: IMVICTA ROMA, helmeted bust of Roma to right REV: Palm or fig tree between two eagles EXE: dot XX dot Municipal Rome mint 526-534 A.D.  GEPIDS. Uncertain king. 454-552. AR Quarter Siliqua (16mm, 0.83 g, 6h). Imitating a Ravenna mint Quarter Siliqua of Theoderic in the name of Anastasius I. Sirmium mint. Pearl-diademed, draped, and cuirassed bust right / Theoderic monogram. Edited by travelcoin
12/06/2025 12:13 pm
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Pillar of the Community
United States
900 Posts |
I'm sorry to tell you, but your INVICTA ROMA is a Bulgarian fake.
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Pillar of the Community
United States
1120 Posts |
Victor, after looking at your examples, that doesn't surprise me. Even though I know little about these types, I had my doubts on that one. It almost feels like it's made of tin. I paid next to nothing for it so it's worth the learning experience.
Edited by travelcoin
12/06/2025 3:31 pm
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Moderator
United States
34393 Posts |
@vic, hope you don't mind me adding to the thread with this 2.5 Nummia minted in Rome. This one was minted in Rome a little later than yours, under the reign of Justinian. It came from a fellow CCF'er and I have it attributed as Demo 180.   "If you climb a good tree, you get a push."
-----Ghanaian proverb
"The danger we all now face is distinguishing between what is authentic and what is performed."
-----King Adz
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Pillar of the Community
United States
900 Posts |
Quote:
hope you don't mind me adding to the thread The more Goths the merrier...said nobody in Medieval times.  Baduila (also known as Totila) ruled the Ostrogoths from A.D. 541- 552. Despite being a great general and nearly recapturing all the territory lost to the Byzantine Empire during the Gothic War, his Empire only outlasted him by about 13 years. After his death, a series of defeats and reversals led to a loss of power for the Goths and their territory was taken over by the Lombards in A.D. 565. The reverse legend of this coin is a bit ironic as FLOREAS SEMPER translates as "Always Grow"  Baduila (541-552) Decanummium (16mm 5.1g). Rome D N BADVILA REX. Helmeted and cuirassed bust facing. FLOREAS SEMPER. King standing right with shield and spear. Metlich 98b; MEC 162. |
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Moderator
United States
34393 Posts |
Quote:
The more Goths the merrier Yesss! Here is my example of a 2.5 Nummia of King Baduila (Demo 242 and MEC I 163):   "If you climb a good tree, you get a push."
-----Ghanaian proverb
"The danger we all now face is distinguishing between what is authentic and what is performed."
-----King Adz
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Replies: 23 / Views: 1,259 |
Posted 12/05/2025 11:29 am
