UNCERTAIN GERMANIC TRIBES, Pseudo-Imperial coinage. Late 3rd-early 4th centuries. 'Aureus' (Gold, 19 mm, 6.21 g, 7 h), 'Derived Ulów Group A', O4/R5. Imitating Valerian I, 253-260, or Gallienus, 253-268. N∾OIΛSIN[.]RΛOIΛ∾E Laureate, draped and cuirassed bust of Valerian I or Gallienus to right. Rev. I[...]DՒOEXIIΛW[.] Emperor running left alongside horse running left, his head turned to right and holding uncertain object in his hands. A wonderful and fresh coin with a very interesting reverse. Holed and with a scrape on the reverse, otherwise, extremely fine.


Derived from the 'Ulów Group', this is a reinterpretation of O1/R1 by a different workshop. The reverse in particular has been significantly altered to show the emperor alongside his horse, which he appears to be mounting in full running - perhaps this goes back to a local sport or test of courage of young Germanic warriors, much like we find renderings of young males jumping off horses and running alongside them on Greek coins from Tarentum and Kelenderis?