UNCERTAIN GERMANIC TRIBES, Pseudo-Imperial coinage. Late 3rd-early 4th centuries. 'Aureus' (Subaeratus, 20 mm, 4.77 g, 1 h), 'Plated Group'. Imitating Probus, 276-282. ƆIIIꓘꟼƧIIIIIITƎ[...]OIIIՒNCIIII Laureate, draped and cuirassed bust of Probus to left, seen from behind.
Rev. IIIIIՒIIIIIII[.]IIO ꟼIII / CIIƆ Emperor, on the right, standing facing, head to left, placing his left hand on his hip and presenting globe held in his right hand to Roma, on the left, seated right. Holed for suspension and with some breaks in plating. Large scuff on the reverse and the flan somewhat bent
, otherwise, good very fine.
From the Aurum Barbarorum Collection.
The figures on the reverse of this coin likely represent a seated Roma presenting a globe to the emperor standing before her. Quite amusingly, the concept of such an image - Rome's city goddess handing sovereignty over the world to the ruler - was clearly misunderstood by the Germanic artist, who shows us the emperor handing a globe to the goddess instead. The image could derive from medallions of Maxentius, but a Severan prototype is perhaps more likely (Calicó 2921).
