OSTROGOTHS. Uncertain king, early to mid 6th century. 42 Nummi (Copper, 28 mm, 12.24 g, 6 h), engraved on an as of Hadrian (117-138) from Rome, circa 130-133. HADRIANVS AVG COS III P P Laureate and draped bust of Hadrian to right, seen from behind; before bust, XIIL (engraved mark of value = 42 Nummi). Rev. AFRICA / S C Africa, wearing elephant skin headdress, reclining left, holding scorpion in her right hand and cornucopiae in her left; to left, basket of grain ears and fruit. Cf. MEC 1, 71-72 (differing undertypes). For undertype, BMC 1714, Cohen 147 and RIC 1615. Very rare. Some deposits, otherwise, very fine.


These numbers of XIIL = 42 were engraved on old Roman bronze coins in the 6th century to revalue them as 42 Nummi.