UNCERTAIN GERMANIC TRIBES, Aurum Barbarorum. Late 3rd-early 4th centuries. 'Aureus' (Gold, 19 mm, 3.23 g, 12 h), 'Sleipnir Group'. ԷIԷИƆHOIOFObIBiꟼMC Laureate and cuirassed imperial bust to right. Rev. D-C[...]BԷ-DMHԷ Male figure with bird-like head in stylized biga to right. Aurum Barbarorum IV, 407 (same dies). A beautiful piece with excellent reverse details. Pierced and with a minor scrape on the obverse, otherwise, very fine.


The abstract style of this piece is quite amazing. It clearly imitates the Victory-in-biga-aurei of the later barracks emperors, but the Germanic artist who cut the dies has managed to change the reverse into a wonderful piece of local art: we see a long-maned and bird-mouthed figure riding a chariot to the right, drawn by a wolf-headed, double-eared and eight-legged horse reminiscent of Sleipnir, the famous horse of Odin from medieval Norse mythology.