Artemide Aste s.r.l.
Auction LVI 23-24 Oct 2021
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Ostrogothic Italy, Athalaric (526-534). AV Solidus in the name of Justinian I. Rome mint, c. 527-530 AD. Obv. DN IVSTINIANVS PP AVG (AV ligate). Diademed, helmeted and cuirassed bust facing slightly right, holding spear and shield. Rev. VICTORIA AVGGG A. Victory standing left, holding long cross; star in left field; in exergue, COMOB. COI 34; MEC 1, 122; MIB 28. AV. 4.42 g. 21.50 mm. A superb example, sharply struck and well centred on a broad flan, from masterly engraved and detailed dies. Insignificant (banker's?) mark at 12 o'clock of reverse annular border, otherwise good EF.
In AD 493, the Ostrogoth Theoderic was sent by the emperor Zeno to remove the then-ruler of Italy, the Skiric Odoacer (who had had dismissed the last Roman emperor of the West), and to then serve as Zeno's imperial representative there. While the Ostrogoths were technically subordinates of the Byzantine emperor, for which reason they struck coinage in his name, they were, in reality, the de facto rulers of the Italian peninsula. (CNG 275, 259 note).
In AD 493, the Ostrogoth Theoderic was sent by the emperor Zeno to remove the then-ruler of Italy, the Skiric Odoacer (who had had dismissed the last Roman emperor of the West), and to then serve as Zeno's imperial representative there. While the Ostrogoths were technically subordinates of the Byzantine emperor, for which reason they struck coinage in his name, they were, in reality, the de facto rulers of the Italian peninsula. (CNG 275, 259 note).