Roma Numismatics Ltd
Auction XX 29-30 Oct 2020
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Visigoths, Gaul. Pseudo-Imperial AV Solidus. Uncertain mint (Toulouse or Narbonne?), AD 466-484. D LIBIVS SEVERVS R R ΛVG, draped and cuirassed bust to right with prominent jewelled fibula, wearing diadem of circular jewels in six compartments within double row of pearls ending in prominent jewel / VICTORIΛ ΛVGGG, Libius Severus, wearing crown with pendilia, standing facing in military dress, holding long cross potent in right hand and victoriola on globe in left, crushing man-headed serpent underfoot; R-И across fields, COMOB in exergue. Unpublished in the standard references; for general types cf.: W. Reinhart Die Münzen des tolosanischen Reiches der Westgoten, DJN 1938, pp. 107-35, pls.2-7; Lacam I, type C pi. 88, 1-5 Rome); RIC X, 2705-6, 3753-5 (Gaul); Depeyrot pl. 7, 4 (Toulouse) and p. 10, 52/1; MEC I, 174-6 (Pseudo-imperial); for diadem type cf. Bastien Le buste monétaire de emperurs romain I, p. 165 fig 15. 4.41g, 22mm, 5h.
Good Very Fine. Unique.
From the inventory of a UK dealer.
The Visigoths crashed into Roman history with the defeat of Valens at Adrianople in AD 378 and the sack of Rome in 410. Under Honorius they had been somewhat tamed and served as foederati in a series of campaigns against the Suevi and Vandals in Spain for which they were rewarded in 417 with the liberty to settle in Aquitania Secunda including the great city of Tolosa (Toulouse) that became their capital and is sometimes referred to as the 'Kingdom of Toulouse'. In 418 the Visigoths elected Theoderic I as their king, whose descendants Thorismund (451-3), Theoderic II (453-66), Euric (466-84), Alaric II (484-507) held the throne until the time of Amalric (507-31) when the kingdom was absorbed by Theoderic into his Ostrogothic kingdom. However, throughout this period the kingdom was firmly under the control of the commanding imperial generals of Gaul Aetius (433-54) and his successors Aegidius (456-65) and Syagrius (465-486) and coins were conventionally issued in gold, silver and bronze in the names of the prevailing Roman emperor.
Regarding this unique issue, the titular emperor is the Lucanian senator Lavius Libius Severus Serpentius, also known as Severus III, while the real power lay in the hands of the Romanized Germanic Magister militum, Ricimer (461-72). However, the arrangement continued as no one as yet could devise any other form of governance. The image and titles of Libius Severus were faithfully reproduced along with Rome mint reverse canons, albeit in a provincial blundered style where the letters assumed elongated serifs, characteristic of Gallic and Hispanic issues.
Notwithstanding the tumultuous events that took place during the reign of Libius Severus himself, Edward Gibbon unkindly wrote: "History was scarcely deigned to notice his birth, his elevation, his character, or his death."
Good Very Fine. Unique.
From the inventory of a UK dealer.
The Visigoths crashed into Roman history with the defeat of Valens at Adrianople in AD 378 and the sack of Rome in 410. Under Honorius they had been somewhat tamed and served as foederati in a series of campaigns against the Suevi and Vandals in Spain for which they were rewarded in 417 with the liberty to settle in Aquitania Secunda including the great city of Tolosa (Toulouse) that became their capital and is sometimes referred to as the 'Kingdom of Toulouse'. In 418 the Visigoths elected Theoderic I as their king, whose descendants Thorismund (451-3), Theoderic II (453-66), Euric (466-84), Alaric II (484-507) held the throne until the time of Amalric (507-31) when the kingdom was absorbed by Theoderic into his Ostrogothic kingdom. However, throughout this period the kingdom was firmly under the control of the commanding imperial generals of Gaul Aetius (433-54) and his successors Aegidius (456-65) and Syagrius (465-486) and coins were conventionally issued in gold, silver and bronze in the names of the prevailing Roman emperor.
Regarding this unique issue, the titular emperor is the Lucanian senator Lavius Libius Severus Serpentius, also known as Severus III, while the real power lay in the hands of the Romanized Germanic Magister militum, Ricimer (461-72). However, the arrangement continued as no one as yet could devise any other form of governance. The image and titles of Libius Severus were faithfully reproduced along with Rome mint reverse canons, albeit in a provincial blundered style where the letters assumed elongated serifs, characteristic of Gallic and Hispanic issues.
Notwithstanding the tumultuous events that took place during the reign of Libius Severus himself, Edward Gibbon unkindly wrote: "History was scarcely deigned to notice his birth, his elevation, his character, or his death."