UNCERTAIN GERMANIC TRIBES, Pseudo-Imperial coinage. Late 3rd-early 4th centuries. 'Quinarius' (Gold, 15 mm, 3.23 g, 12 h), 'Gordian Group'. Imitating Gordian III, 238-244. IMP GORDIANVS PIVI Laureate head of Gordian III to left. Rev. [...]IITIDX III Eagle standing right, wings spread and holding wreath in beak. Aurum Barbarorum I, -, cf. 801 (differing legends and the eagle with his head turned to left and without the wreath). Minor die breaks on the reverse and the suspension loop broken off, otherwise, very fine.


It is quite tempting to read the legend on this reverse as a blundered version of the ethnic ANTIOXIA. If this is true, the Syro-Phoenician tetradrachm in the artist's possession must have been an issue of Philip I and his family (see also above, lot 1870).