UNCERTAIN GERMANIC TRIBES, Aurum Barbarorum. Late 3rd-early 4th centuries. 'Aureus' (Subaeratus, 19.5 mm, 2.45 g, 6 h), 'Early Group'. Imitating Severus Alexander, 222-235. IMP ALEXANDER PIVS AVG Laureate, draped and cuirassed bust of Severus Alexander to right. Rev. MARƧ VCTOꟼ Mars advancing right, holding spear in his right hand and shield in his left. Holed and with some breaks in plating, otherwise, very fine.


Rather surprisingly, Aurum Barbarorum only very rarely copies coins of Severus Alexander, whose comparatively long reign and abundant aurei would give reason to expect otherwise. In fact, this and the following lot 392 below are the first such coins this cataloguer has worked with. However, another example struck from the same dies as the present coin recently appeared in Numismad E-Auction 6, 28 January 2023, 1683, where it was misdescribed as a 'fourrée aureus from Rome'. The style of the dies is indeed somewhat close to the Roman originals, but the coin obviously belongs to the Aurum Barbarorum nonetheless.