UNCERTAIN GERMANIC TRIBES, Pseudo-Imperial coinage. Mid 3rd-early 4th centuries. 'Aureus' (Gold, 20 mm, 6.49 g, 11 h). UNJIHCNV VIHVV Laureate, draped and cuirassed imperial bust to left. Rev. IVTIOTHN / O Deity seated left, holding patera in his/her right hand and scepter in his/her left. Sergeev 226 (same dies). Holed and with some scratches and a graffito on the reverse, otherwise, very fine.


It is hard to assign this coin to a specific Roman prototype (perhaps an aureus of Gordian III?), but what makes it particularly interesting is the fact that it has a partially readable graffito on the reverse: STVN(G/Λ)UI / Y TN(Iλ?). A tempting, but admittedly speculative interpretation is to read this as the name of a somewhat literate Germanic owner, who marked the coin as his possession by engraving his name on its reverse.