UNCERTAIN GERMANIC TRIBES, Aurum Barbarorum. Late 3rd-early 4th centuries. 'Aureus' (Gold, 19 mm, 7.41 g, 12 h), 'Derived Gordian Group B'. Imitating Caracalla Caesar, 196-198, Geta Caesar, 198-209, or Diadumenian Caesar, 217-218. OKKΛSPΛSE[.]ΛΛNNOSΛEEKEE Bare-headed, draped and cuirassed imperial bust to right, seen from behind. Rev. ΛΛΛOЯЯ-KΛ[..]VEESSNNNN Draped female figure standing front, head to left, holding counting-board (?) in her right hand and placing her left on shield set on ground. Aurum Barbarorum IV, 396 (this coin). A wonderful piece, with a delightful juvenile portrait of a Roman Caesar. Light scratches and with a small die break on the reverse, otherwise, very fine.


The portrait on this wonderful coin is clearly that of a Roman Caesar, a successor to the throne, with the most likely candidates being Caracalla, Geta, or Diadumenian. Unfortunately, the legend is too blundered to give any further clues, but the bust does bear a striking resemblance to Diadumenian, Macrinus' unfortunate teenage son. As for the reverse figure, her shield points towards Minerva, but she appears to hold Liberalitas' counting-board in her right hand. Thus, in the Aurum Barbarorum's typical fashion, the Roman deities have probably been misunderstood and intermingled. Stylistically, the coin belongs to the 'Derived Gordian Group B', with its closest companion being Aurum Barbarorum III, 2398, the dies of which were very likely crafted by the same artist (note the similarity in the rendering of the legends and the emperor's eyes and lips).