MEROVINGIANS. St. Bertrand-de-Comminges, probably after 582/3. Triens (Gold, 14 mm, 1.41 g, 6 h), Nonnitus, moneyer. ✠ CONBENAS FIT Diademed and draped bust to right. Rev. ✠ NONNITVS M[O] Cross on globe between C / V - ς / II. Belfort 1616. Depeyrot IV, p. 54, 3. Prou 2428. Extremely rare and of great historical interest. Tiny marks, otherwise, good extremely fine.



The ancient settlement of Lugdunum Convenarum, the predecessor of today’s Saint-Bertrand-de-Comminges, was founded by Pompey 'the Great' in 72 BC. At its peak, it had around 10,000 inhabitants, though today fewer than 300 remain. Dominating the village, located at the foot of the Pyrenees, is the imposing Cathédrale Notre-Dame de Saint-Bertrand-de-Comminges, built in the 12th century.

During the Merovingian period, the settlement became significant in 585 when Guntram I, King of Orléans, captured and executed the rebel Gundovald there. This event is of particular historical importance because Gundovald had spent the years leading up to 582/83 in Byzantine exile in Constantinople. Amid internal strife in the Frankish realm, a group of nobles had requested the dispatch of Gundovald by Emperor Tiberius II (578-582), shortly before his death. His successor, Emperor Maurice (582-602), provided Gundovald with both funds and troops. After arriving in Gaul, Gundovald managed to capture several cities, but, lacking support, he withdrew to Saint-Bertrand-de-Comminges, where he was eventually captured and executed.

This episode represents the last documented attempt by the Byzantine Empire to exert direct influence on events in Gaul. Of particular interest to our coin is that its reverse copies a Byzantine semissis introduced by Emperor Maurice. The terminus post quem for our piece is thus 578, and it seems highly likely that the coin reflects Byzantine issues brought to Gaul by Gundovald in 582/83. It is possible that Gundovald himself was the issuer of this remarkable coin, but this cannot be proven.