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Auction 66 16-21 Nov 2020
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France - Auvergne - Theudebert II (595–612), King of Austrasia - AV Tremissis nd., Brioude (Grierson--, Belfort--, Depeyrot--, Prou--) - Obv: Head left; + TEDOBERTIRIX / Rev: Large letters AR, legend BRIVATE... FT - Gold 1.28 g. Ø 12 mm - XF, extremely beautiful coin with sharp striking and details, of the utmost rarity, probably unique, to our best knowledge the only know Tremissis of Theudebert II
The Merovingian coinage is roughly divided in two main series. The first and earliest is following the late Roman types and is called the pseudo-imperial coinage because they still mention the more and more garbled name of the late Roman emperors and is using also the reverse types of late Roman gold coinage. The second series are mentioning the name of the monetarius (mintmaster) and place of production of the coins. In France there is also the tendency to mention the names of the early kings of France or the divided parts which they were ruling after the fall of the Roman Empire on their gold coins.
After the death of king Chlothar I, sole ruler of the Merovingian dynasty of the Franks, his empire was divided in 561 in four parts among his four sons. Sigebert I, 3rd surviving son of Chlothar I, became king of Austrasia. After his death in 575, his eldest son Childebert II inherited the Austrasian kingdom. When he died in 595, his son Theudebert II (c.585-612) became king of Austrasia and also received some cities and regions a.w. the Auvergne.
The unique coin here offered is mentioning the name of king Theudebert II and the name of the civic mint of Brioude. The letters AR are the abbreviation of Arvernis, the Gallo-Roman name of Clermont-Ferrand. Until now there were no tremissis known mentioning the sole ruler Theudebert in combination with the mint of Brivate (now Brioude, located in the department of Haute-Loire (Auvergne region)); a unique combination of imperial aspects of the early medieval coinage: the portrait of the king, full name and the civic mint of Brioude.
The Merovingian coinage is roughly divided in two main series. The first and earliest is following the late Roman types and is called the pseudo-imperial coinage because they still mention the more and more garbled name of the late Roman emperors and is using also the reverse types of late Roman gold coinage. The second series are mentioning the name of the monetarius (mintmaster) and place of production of the coins. In France there is also the tendency to mention the names of the early kings of France or the divided parts which they were ruling after the fall of the Roman Empire on their gold coins.
After the death of king Chlothar I, sole ruler of the Merovingian dynasty of the Franks, his empire was divided in 561 in four parts among his four sons. Sigebert I, 3rd surviving son of Chlothar I, became king of Austrasia. After his death in 575, his eldest son Childebert II inherited the Austrasian kingdom. When he died in 595, his son Theudebert II (c.585-612) became king of Austrasia and also received some cities and regions a.w. the Auvergne.
The unique coin here offered is mentioning the name of king Theudebert II and the name of the civic mint of Brioude. The letters AR are the abbreviation of Arvernis, the Gallo-Roman name of Clermont-Ferrand. Until now there were no tremissis known mentioning the sole ruler Theudebert in combination with the mint of Brivate (now Brioude, located in the department of Haute-Loire (Auvergne region)); a unique combination of imperial aspects of the early medieval coinage: the portrait of the king, full name and the civic mint of Brioude.