OSTROGOTHS. Baduila, 541-552. Decanummium (Bronze, 15 mm, 4.16 g, 6 h), Rome, 549-552. D N BAD-VILA REX Draped, cuirassed and beardless bust of Baduila facing, wearing a Gothic helmet ('Spangenhelm') decorated with two stars.
Rev. D N B/ADV/ILA / REX within laurel wreath. MIB 89a. MEC 1, 157. In exceptional condition for this difficult issue and among the finest known examples. Very fine.
Ex Münzen und Medaillen FPL 357, June 1974, 42.
After the devastating defeats of King Vitiges, the Ostrogoths had only with great difficulty managed to hold onto a small realm north of the Po against the Byzantines. As the last significant ruler of the Ostrogoths, Baduila (also known as Totila) attempted to restore the kingdom. Contrary to expectations, he was initially very successful, and soon nearly all of Italy was again under Gothic control. This was helped by the weakening of the Byzantine forces due to uprisings in the Balkans, a renewed Persian war, and the Justinianic plague. After Baduila even succeeded in capturing Corsica and Sardinia, Justinian’s most experienced general, Narses, launched a major counteroffensive in 552. Unlike Belisarius in 535, Narses invaded Italy from the north and defeated Baduila with his elite troops in the decisive Battle of Busta Gallorum. With Baduila’s death on the battlefield, the Ostrogothic Kingdom effectively came to an end, and his successor, Teja, was killed shortly afterward in the Battle of Mons Lactarius.
Our Decanummium was minted by Baduila after his second capture of Rome in 549. He would rule the eternal city for three more years until his death, after which it - now but a shadow of its former glory - fell back into Byzantine hands. The frontal portrait is one of the finest representations of Gothic kings on coins. Particularly noticeable on this piece is the Gothic 'Spangenhelm', adorned with two stars. The inscription itself is a blend of Roman and Germanic traditions, referring to the king in Latin with the ancient Roman title
dominus noster ('our lord'), but using
rex (the Latin version of the Germanic rix = king) instead of the imperial Augustus.
