UNCERTAIN GERMANIC TRIBES, Pseudo-Imperial coinage. Mid 3rd-early 4th centuries. 'Aureus' (Gold, 20 mm, 5.86 g, 12 h). NVVTSΛΛOMSOSλVKKYTΓSYSOSTSVNVI Laureate, draped and cuirassed imperial bust to left. Rev. SOλSλOEYSλESYEλSV Uberitas standing front, head to left, holding purse in her right hand and cornucopiae in her left. A lovely piece of attractive and interesting style. Holed and with some minor scrapes, otherwise, good very fine.


The dies for this interesting imitation were certainly cut by an illiterate artist. While the decidedly Roman looking portrait does not bear any resemblance to Trajan Decius, the reverse probably copies his Uberitas-type (Calicó 3299), which widely circulated in the Barbaricum following the capture of the imperial treasure in the Battle of Abritus in 251 and the Roman tribute payments to the various Gothic tribes in the 250s.