Leu Numismatik AG
Auction 7 24-25 Oct 2020
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UNCERTAIN GERMANIC TRIBES, Pseudo-Imperial coinage. Late 3rd-early 4th centuries. 'Aureus' (Gold, 18 mm, 2.76 g, 12 h), 'Provincial Group'. Imitating a pseudo-autonomous bronze issue. IO\/\IOƆIIOIOIIOИOIIIƆIIIO[..] (starting at 12 o'clock) Bare head of Herakles with long beard to right. Rev. IIIIOO[...]OOI Eros, nude and winged, standing front, legs crossed, leaning left on torch (?) set on tripod or altar. A very interesting piece. Holed and with a few light marks, otherwise, good very fine.
From the Aurum Barbarorum Collection.
This exceptional piece differs from all other Aurum Barbarorum in that it copies a pseudo-autonomous Roman Provincial bronze coin! There is no direct prototype, but the types are easily recognizable: a bearded portrait of Herakles in fine style on the obverse and a rendering of Eros, albeit somewhat crude, leaning on his torch set on a stone. Pseudo-autonomous bronzes showing Herakles are abundant in Thrace and western Asia Minor, whereas Eros leaning on his torch is a common type in Moesia and Bithynia in particular, regions that the Gothic invaders plundered repeatedly in the 250s-260s. Perhaps this is how the Germanic artist got to know the types, or perhaps he encountered Roman Provincial bronzes in the pockets of merchants buying grain from his native region.
From the Aurum Barbarorum Collection.
This exceptional piece differs from all other Aurum Barbarorum in that it copies a pseudo-autonomous Roman Provincial bronze coin! There is no direct prototype, but the types are easily recognizable: a bearded portrait of Herakles in fine style on the obverse and a rendering of Eros, albeit somewhat crude, leaning on his torch set on a stone. Pseudo-autonomous bronzes showing Herakles are abundant in Thrace and western Asia Minor, whereas Eros leaning on his torch is a common type in Moesia and Bithynia in particular, regions that the Gothic invaders plundered repeatedly in the 250s-260s. Perhaps this is how the Germanic artist got to know the types, or perhaps he encountered Roman Provincial bronzes in the pockets of merchants buying grain from his native region.