UNCERTAIN GERMANIC TRIBES, Pseudo-Imperial coinage. Mid 3rd-early 4th centuries. 'Aureus' (Subaeratus, 21 mm, 4.43 g, 7 h), 'Stern Group'. Imitating Marcus Aurelius, 161-180. IΝIOΝI[...]O IIIVIIIΓXII Laureate head of Marcus Aurelius to right. Rev. [...]IEIIΘWIIIICIIII Aequitas standing front, head to left, holding scales in her right hand and cornucopiae in her left. Holed and with some breaks in plating, otherwise, very fine.


The unusual plating on this interesting subaeratus coin was likely applied by dipping the struck bronze core into molten electrum, which resulted in soft and somewhat blurry devices.