MEROVINGIANS. Pseudo-imperial coinage. 7th century. Semissis (Gold, 15 mm, 2.30 g, 5 h), imitating an issue of the Byzantine emperor Heraclius (610-641). Uncertain mint. DN Λ[...]VT PP AVI Diademed, draped and cuirassed bust of Heraclius to right. Rev. CIVƧVΔΔCAΓICΓB Cross potent on globe. MEC I -. Extremely rare as a semissis. Pierced and somewhat double struck, otherwise, very fine.


This remarkable Merovingian imitation takes its inspiration from a Byzantine prototype - not the usual tremissis, but rather, as its weight of 2.30 g reveals, a semissis. The model was probably an issue of Heraclius (SB 784–785), dating the piece to the early 7th century or somewhat later.