Spain (573-78) tremissis
This specimen was lot 1732 in Sincona sale 76 (Zürich, May 2022), where it sold for 4,250 CHF (about US$5,159 including buyer's fees). The catalog description[1] noted,
"SPAIN | Westgoten. Leovigild, 569-586. Tremissis (573-578), Toledo (?). Imitation des Römischen Kaisers Justin. ICVRRT-ITRRS Drapierte und diademierte Büste nach rechts, auf der Brust ein Kreuz. Rv. VVRRVI-TAVRRTV Victoria schreitet nach rechts mit Palmzweig und Kranz, im abschnitt ONO. Äusserst selten / Extremely rare. FDC. Prachtexemplar. (Spain, Visigoths, Leovigild, 569-586, tremissis, perhaps Toledo mint, imitation of a Roman issue of the emperor Justin. Obverse: draped and diademed bust right, cross on breast; reverse: Victory flies right with palm branch. Uncirculated, Cabinet piece.)"
The Visigoths were a barbarian horde from the lower Danube who invaded the Roman empire in the fifth century as it collapsed. After various wanderings, they settled in southern France and established a kingdom. Driven out of Gaul by the Franks in the sixth century, the Visigoths set up shop in Spain, contending with the Suevi and the remnants of Byzantine rule. In 589, the kings renounced the Arian heresy and joined the Roman Catholic church. With church support, the kingdom survived until the coming of the Arabs in 711. Succession disputes led to constant civil war and there was little resistance to the Muslim invasion. Their coinage comprises gold tremisses almost exclusively, the tremissis being one-third of a Roman solidus. The contraction of trade and the shortage of gold meant that larger gold coins were not wanted or even feasible. The drawing in Cayón for number 62 shows the same portrait of the king and of Victory but has a different reverse legend.
Recorded mintage: unknown.
Specification: gold. This specimen is 1.24 g.
Catalog reference: Cayón-62, Chaves 81 var. M.E.C. I 207 var. Tomasini 573574 var (group C3).
- Cayón, Adolfo, Clemente Cayón and Juan Cayón, Las Monedas Españolas, del Tremis al Euro: del 411 a Nuestros Dias, vol. 1, Madrid: Cayón-Jano S.L., 2005.
- Friedberg, Arthur L. and Ira S. Friedberg, Gold Coins of the World, From Ancient Times to the Present, 9th ed., Clifton, NJ: Coin and Currency Institute, 2017.
- [1]Richter, Jürg, SINCONA Auction 76, The Annemarie and Gerd Köhlmoos Collection, Zürich: SINCONA AG, 2022.
Link to:
- Spain (586-601) tremissis, Emerita mint, Reccared I
- Coins and currency dated 573