Numismatica Ars Classica
Auction 125 23-24 Jun 2021
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Anonymous Copper issues in Iberia. The Suevi, temp. Rechiar, 448 – 455.
Solidus, in the name of Honorius, Bracara circa 448-455, AV 4.369 g. (SG 18.98, Au 98%) D N HONORI – VS PF AVG Pearl-diademed, draped and cuirassed bust r. Rev. VICTORIA – AAV GGG Emperor standing r., holding standard in r. hand and Victory on globe in l., spurning captive with his l. foot; in field, B – R. In exergue, COMOB. RIC –. MEC I, –. For contemporary silver issues, cf. Peixoto Cubral-Metcalf, A Moneda Sueva - Suevic Coinage, Anexos Nummus 4, pp. 236-255. W. Reinhart, Historia general del reino hispanico de los Suevos, 1952, pl. 5, 43-4. W. Reinhart, Die Münzen des Schwebenreiches, in BNG 55, 1937, pl. 36, 1. RIC 3786. Gomez 2003, 01.01. For contemporary solidi, cf. Cabral and Metcalf, pp.236-55. Reinhart 1942, fig. 1-3. MEC I, 285.
Unique. A coin of tremendous historical importance and fascination. Extremely fine
Ex DNW sale 27 September 2007, 2861.
The Suevi crossed the Rhine with the Vandals in 406 and moved into the North-Western Iberic Peninsula in 411 where they remained until their Kingdom fell to Leovigild in 585 and was incorporated into that of the Visigoths. They minted a very rare siliqua with the name of Honorius but also with the name of King Rechair (438-55) on the reverse who is considered to be the first Germanic ruler to use his own name on coins. On his silver coins, Rechair used BR for the mint name of their capital Bracara (Braga). However, most of their extant coinage is in gold in the form of pseudo-imperial tremisses of which only roughly 200 are known and a few imitative solidi in the name of the Honorius. Suevic Coinage with the text written principally by D.M Metcalf is the definitive reference.
In the DNW catalogue, indeed, written by Michael Metcalf, we read:
"An extended series of imitative solidi in the name of Honorius (393-423), and with the mint-signature M D (Mediolanum) was attributed to the Sueves as long ago as 1942 by W. Reinhart. They are represented in Portuguese public and private collections. Finds of related coins have been reported from Coimbra, Castelo Branco, Covilhã and Badajoz. The present specimen, which is stylistically similar to the imitative M D series, differs in having the mint-signature B R, seen also on the silver siliquæ of the Suevic King Rechiar (448-56). Given the Portuguese origin of so many specimens of the main series, there can be no reasonable doubt but that B R stands for Bracara (modern Braga). The new specimen is stylistically superior to almost all the imitative M D coins, and doubtless stands at or near the beginning of the sequence. It may very well be from the time of King Rechiar. The style of the dies should be compared in detail with Cabral and Metcalf, Suevic Coinage (Supplement n.4 to Nummus), Porto, 1997, p.236 and plate 1, no. 2. The workmanship is of imperial quality, except perhaps for the rather flamboyant seriffing of the letters vs in the obverse legend".
Solidus, in the name of Honorius, Bracara circa 448-455, AV 4.369 g. (SG 18.98, Au 98%) D N HONORI – VS PF AVG Pearl-diademed, draped and cuirassed bust r. Rev. VICTORIA – AAV GGG Emperor standing r., holding standard in r. hand and Victory on globe in l., spurning captive with his l. foot; in field, B – R. In exergue, COMOB. RIC –. MEC I, –. For contemporary silver issues, cf. Peixoto Cubral-Metcalf, A Moneda Sueva - Suevic Coinage, Anexos Nummus 4, pp. 236-255. W. Reinhart, Historia general del reino hispanico de los Suevos, 1952, pl. 5, 43-4. W. Reinhart, Die Münzen des Schwebenreiches, in BNG 55, 1937, pl. 36, 1. RIC 3786. Gomez 2003, 01.01. For contemporary solidi, cf. Cabral and Metcalf, pp.236-55. Reinhart 1942, fig. 1-3. MEC I, 285.
Unique. A coin of tremendous historical importance and fascination. Extremely fine
Ex DNW sale 27 September 2007, 2861.
The Suevi crossed the Rhine with the Vandals in 406 and moved into the North-Western Iberic Peninsula in 411 where they remained until their Kingdom fell to Leovigild in 585 and was incorporated into that of the Visigoths. They minted a very rare siliqua with the name of Honorius but also with the name of King Rechair (438-55) on the reverse who is considered to be the first Germanic ruler to use his own name on coins. On his silver coins, Rechair used BR for the mint name of their capital Bracara (Braga). However, most of their extant coinage is in gold in the form of pseudo-imperial tremisses of which only roughly 200 are known and a few imitative solidi in the name of the Honorius. Suevic Coinage with the text written principally by D.M Metcalf is the definitive reference.
In the DNW catalogue, indeed, written by Michael Metcalf, we read:
"An extended series of imitative solidi in the name of Honorius (393-423), and with the mint-signature M D (Mediolanum) was attributed to the Sueves as long ago as 1942 by W. Reinhart. They are represented in Portuguese public and private collections. Finds of related coins have been reported from Coimbra, Castelo Branco, Covilhã and Badajoz. The present specimen, which is stylistically similar to the imitative M D series, differs in having the mint-signature B R, seen also on the silver siliquæ of the Suevic King Rechiar (448-56). Given the Portuguese origin of so many specimens of the main series, there can be no reasonable doubt but that B R stands for Bracara (modern Braga). The new specimen is stylistically superior to almost all the imitative M D coins, and doubtless stands at or near the beginning of the sequence. It may very well be from the time of King Rechiar. The style of the dies should be compared in detail with Cabral and Metcalf, Suevic Coinage (Supplement n.4 to Nummus), Porto, 1997, p.236 and plate 1, no. 2. The workmanship is of imperial quality, except perhaps for the rather flamboyant seriffing of the letters vs in the obverse legend".