Spain (621-31) tremissis
Eliberri mint
The first specimen was lot 34491 in Stack's Bowers ANA sale (Chicago, August 2022), where it sold for $900. The catalog description[1] noted,
"SPAIN. Visigoths. AV Tremissis, ND (621-31). Eliberri Mint. Svinthila. ANACS AU-55. Obverse: + SVINTIL? RE, facing bust; Reverse: + PIVS ELIBER:, facing bust. Quite well centered and struck, with a golden-olive hue and hardly any evidence of handling."
Tucci mint
The second specimen was lot 43433 in Stack's Bowers NYINC sale (New York, January 2023), where it sold for $660. The catalog description[2] noted, "SPAIN. Visigoths. AV Tremissis, ND (621-631). Tucci Mint. Svinthila. PCGS Genuine--Bent, Unc Details. Obverse: + SVINTIL RE, facing bust; Reverse: + IVSTVS TV:CI, facing bust. A rather sharp and well-struck piece despite the prominent bend along the center (since straightened)."
Barbi mint
The third specimen was lot 43434 in Stack's Bowers NYINC sale (New York, January 2023), where it sold for $660. The catalog description[2] noted, "SPAIN. Visigoths. AV Tremissis, ND (621-631). Barbi Mint. Svinthila. EXTREMELY FINE. Obverse: + SVIИTHILΛ RE:, facing bust; Reverse: + PIVS BΛRBI:, facing bust. A nearly unhandled example with crisp details and lustrous surfaces. Highly attractive."
Ispali mint
The fourth specimen was lot 30009 in Stack's Bowers NYINC sale (New York, January 2025), where it sold for $1,560. The catalog description[3] noted, "SPAIN. Visigoths. Tremissis, ND (621-31). Ispali Mint. Svinthila. NGC MS-62. Obverse: + SVINTHILΛ RE, draped bust facing; Reverse: + ISPΛLI PIVS, draped bust facing. Fairly well centered and vibrant, with some alluring iridescence spread throughout."
Emerita mint
The fifth specimen was lot 449 in Jean Elsen sale 164 (Brussels, March 2026), where it sold for €1,150 (about US$1,601 including buyer's fees). The catalog description[4] noted,
"WISIGOTHS, Suinthila (621-631), AV tremissis, Emerita. D/ + SVINTHILΛ REX Petit buste de f. R/ + EMERI-T-Λ PIVS Petit buste de f. Petit éclat du flan. Très Beau à Superbe. (Visigoths, Suinthila, 621-31, gold tremissis, Emerita mint. Obverse: small bust facing; reverse: small bust facing. Rim nick, Very Fine - Extremely Fine.)"
Toledo mint
The sixth specimen was lot 445 in Jean Elsen sale 164 (Brussels, March 2026), where it sold for €850 (about US$1,183 including buyer's fees). The catalog description[4] noted,
"WISIGOTHS, Suinthila (621-631), AV tremissis, Tolède. D/ + SVINTHILA REX Petit buste de f. R/ + TOLETO PIVS Petit buste de f. Très Beau à Superbe. (Visigoths, Suinthila, 621-31, gold tremissis, Toledo mint. Obverse: small bust facing; reverse: small bust facing. Very Fine - Extremely Fine.)"
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. Cayón records tremisses for this ruler from 41 mints.
Recorded mintage: unknown.
Specification: gold, the second specimen 1.40 g, the third specimen 1.39 g, the fourth specimen 1.41 g, the fifth specimen is 1,44 g, the sixth specimen is 1,49 g.
Catalog reference: the first specimen is Cayón-259, Pliego-374f; cf. Miles-227a. The second specimen is Pliego-279; Chaves-186; Miles-229f, Cayón-283. The third specimen is Pliego-366f; Chaves-182; Miles-224e, Cayón-250. The fourth specimen is Miles-228C; CNV-289.7, Cayón-250. The fifth specimen is Cayón-262, Miles 235a; C.N.V. 327.1. The sixth specimen is Cayón-281, Miles 223a; C.N.V. 298.
- Cayón, Adolfo, Clemente Cayón and Juan Cayón, Las Monedas Españolas, del Tremis al Euro: del 411 a Nuestros Dias, 2 volumes, Madrid: Cayón-Jano S.L., 2005.
- [1]Orsini, Matt, Kyle Ponterio and Jeremy Bostwick, The 2022 ANA Auction - Ancients & World Coins - Featuring The Salton Collection Part III, the Augustana Collection and the Robert C. Knepper Collection, Costa Mesa, CA: Stack's Bowers LLC, 2022.
- [2]Orsini, Matt, Kyle Ponterio and Jeremy Bostwick, The January 2023 NYINC Auction: Ancient Coins, World Coins & Paper Money, featuring the Taraszka Collection and the Mark and Dottie Salton Collection, Costa Mesa, CA: Stack's Bowers LLC, 2022.
- [3]Orsini, Matt, Kyle Ponterio and Jeremy Bostwick, January 2025 NYINC Showcase Auction, featuring the Richard Margolis Collection, Part III, and the Richard August Collection, Costa Mesa, CA: Stack's Bowers Galleries, Inc., 2024.
- [4]Elsen, Philippe, et al., Vente Publique 164: Monnaies du duché de Brabant et du royaume de Belgique, Brussels: Jean Elsen et ses Fils S.A., 2026.
Link to:
- Spain (612-21) tremissis, Elvora mint, Sisebut I
- Spain (631-36) tremissis, Emerita and Ispali mints, Sisenand
- Spain (639-42) tremissis, Emerita mint, Tulga
- Coins and currency dated 621