Leu Numismatik AG
Auction 4 25 May 2019
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UNCERTAIN GERMANIC TRIBES, Pseudo-Imperial coinage. Mid 3rd-early 4th centuries. 'Aureus' (Gold, 20 mm, 6.49 g, 11 h). UNJIHCNV VIHVV Laureate, draped and cuirassed imperial bust to left. Rev. IVTIOTHN / O Deity seated left, holding patera in his/her right hand and scepter in his/her left. Sergeev 226 (same dies). Holed and with some scratches and a graffito on the reverse, otherwise, very fine.
From the Aurum Barbarorum Collection.
It is hard to assign this coin to a specific Roman prototype (perhaps an aureus of Gordian III?), but what makes it particularly interesting is the fact that it has a partially readable graffito on the reverse: STVN(G/Λ)UI / Y TN(Iλ?). A tempting, but admittedly speculative interpretation is to read this as the name of a somewhat literate Germanic owner, who marked the coin as his possession by engraving his name on its reverse.
From the Aurum Barbarorum Collection.
It is hard to assign this coin to a specific Roman prototype (perhaps an aureus of Gordian III?), but what makes it particularly interesting is the fact that it has a partially readable graffito on the reverse: STVN(G/Λ)UI / Y TN(Iλ?). A tempting, but admittedly speculative interpretation is to read this as the name of a somewhat literate Germanic owner, who marked the coin as his possession by engraving his name on its reverse.