UNCERTAIN GERMANIC TRIBES, Pseudo-Imperial coinage. Late 3rd-early 4th centuries. 'Aureus' (Gold, 19 mm, 6.89 g, 3 h), 'Ulów Group', O1/R1. Imitating Valerian I, 253-260, or Gallienus, 253-268. OΩOS/∾IIOTSΩIIՒSO IIII Laureate, draped and cuirassed bust of Valerian I or Gallienus to right, seen from behind. Rev. OZMCIIIΩIIIIOΩNOΩMIIII (starting at 12 o'clock) The emperor riding on horseback to right, wielding uncertain weapon in his right hand; all within beaded inner circle. Bursche, Ulów, fig. 7 = Sergeev 220 (same dies). Beautifully struck and with unusually clear details. Holed, otherwise, good very fine.


For a note on this magnificent reverse, see Aurum Barbarorum I, 805. An interesting minor detail about this type is the weapon the emperor is wielding: it is not a spear or javelin as on Roman prototypes, rather, it appears to be an Archaic forked slashing weapon, perhaps of a kind the Germanic warriors rode into battle with. The obverse, on the other hand, is derived from Provincial issues from Alexandria Troas and shows either Valerian I or Gallienus (see Leu 4 (2019), 430).