UNCERTAIN GERMANIC TRIBES, Pseudo-Imperial coinage. Late 3rd-early 4th centuries. 'Aureus' (Gold, 19 mm, 4.62 g, 6 h), 'Early Group B'. Imitating Trajan, 117-138. IIXIIΛV[...]CNVXTZΛMDIX Laureate head of Trajan to right. Rev. [...]ИIΛZWOMΛVOVAWIƎN Minerva standing front, head to left, holding stylized thunderbolt in her right hand and placing her left on shield set on ground, spear leaning against her left arm. A highly stylized and very attractive piece. Holed and with some scratches on the obverse, otherwise, good very fine.


It is very unusual to find imitations of coins of emperors this early, but the clean-shaven portrait is clearly that of Trajan and a distant reflection of the great emperor's name is perhaps preserved in the letter string TZΛ before his face. The reverse probably shows Minerva holding spear and shield, with the branch-like ending of her right arm representing a thunderbolt (cf. Calicó 841, an aureus of Domitian).