Spain (649-72) tremissis
This specimen was lot 34364 in Heritage sale 3098 (New York, January 2022), where it sold for $9,600. The catalog description[1] noted, "Spain: Visigoths. Recceswinth gold Tremissis ND (649-672) MS61 NGC, Ispali mint. +R • CCIS | V | NT • SR (NT ligate), Bust of Recceswinth to the right / +ISPALIPIVS (annulet), cross on 3 steps. Boldly struck on a velveteen lustrous flan. From the GK Collection." 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 11 mints.
Recorded mintage: unknown.
Specification: 1.51 g, gold, this specimen 1.51 g.
Catalog reference: Cayón-384, Miles-368d, CNV-451.4.
- 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.
- 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]Cristiano Bierrenbach, Warren Tucker and Sam Spiegel, NYINC World Coins Signature Auction 3098, Dallas, TX: Heritage Auction Galleries, 2021.
Link to:
- Spain (612-21) tremissis Elvora mint
- Spain (639-42) tremissis Emerita mint
- Spain (653-72) tremissis, Cordoba mint, Recceswinth
- Coins and currency dated 639