Classical Numismatic Group Mail Bid Sale 82 
 Auction date: 16 September 2009 
 
Lot number: 1107 
Price realized: 525 USD

Lot description:

UNCERTAIN GERMANIC TRIBES. Pseudo-Imperial coinage. Late 6th century AD. AR Half Siliqua (0.80 g, 6h). In the name of Justinian I. Struck circa 527-565. [...] XVY TXVVKVVK, pearl-diademed, draped, and cuirassed bust right / Large Chi-Rho set on globe; five-rayed star on either side of base; all within wreath. Cf. MEC 1, 295-7 (Justinian I); Arslan -; cf. BMC Vandals 12 (Justinian I). Good VF, toned. 

This coin is a clear imitation of a Ravenna mint half 
siliqua of Justinian I. While the Lombards during this 
early period employed similar Ravenna mint half siliquas 
as a prototype (see lot 1138 above), they adhere to 
a generally faithful adaptation, including the legends. 
The complete mis-copying of the obverse legend suggests 
that this coin may have been struck by one of the 
more northern Germanic tribes in the upper Rhine-Danube 
region, who would have been familiar with the overall 
type, but less familiar with what the obverse legend 
meant. 

Estimate: 500 USD 

Used with permission of CNG coins, www.cngcoins.com, January, 2010