UNCERTAIN GERMANIC TRIBES, Pseudo-Imperial coinage. Late 3rd-early 4th centuries. 'Binio' (Gold, 20 mm, 3.63 g, 1 h), imitating Probus, 276-282, Diocletian, 284-305, and Maximian, 286-305. SNVSNCCVV[...]IIVC∾CSVV Radiate, draped and cuirassed imperial bust to right, holding olive-branch. Rev. NNIISO[.]IIISCINC / CIICCN On the left, Diocletian-Jupiter, helmeted, standing left, holding thunderbolt (?) in his right hand and with transverse spear behind him; on the right, Maximian-Hercules, helmeted, standing left, leaning right on club; in field above, numerous decorative pellets. A most interesting piece. Holed and with a minor scrape on the obverse and a few marks, otherwise, very fine.


This is, in many ways, one of the most interesting imitations from the Aurum Barbarorum Collection. It is not only unique in bearing a radiate portrait and thus being an ostensible binio - with the low weight of 3.63 g illustrating that these imitations were never intended to circulate as face value coins - but the bust also carries an olive branch as we for example know it from an extremely rare aureus of Probus (Calicó 4158, where Probus also carries an eagle-tipped scepter). Even more interesting is the reverse, where we see, under a cloud of decorative pellets, two helmeted figures standing to the left, of which the left one holds an uncertain object in his right hand and carries a spear, whereas his companion on the right is leaning on a club. The latter undoubtedly derives from Roman renderings of Hercules, and the most likely explanation of this unusual reverse type therefore is that the 'Barbarian' artist who cut the dies attempted to show the two helmeted Augusti Diocletian and Maximian, in the guise of their divine comites Jupiter (the uncertain object in his right hand would then be a thunderbolt) and Hercules, respectively.