Spain (653-72) tremissis
Cordova mint
This specimen was lot 1262 in Goldberg's NY International sale 58 (New York, January 2023), where it sold for $4,560. The catalog description[1] noted, "Visigoths in Spain. Recceswinth (653-672). Gold Tremissis, undated. Cordoba mint. Bust right. Rev. Cross potent set on four steps. Rare. Sharply struck with full mint bloom. In PCGS holder graded MS 62."
Toledo mint
The second specimen was lot 452 in Jean Elsen sale 164 (Brussels, March 2026), where it sold for €2,200 (about US$3,063 including buyer's fees). The catalog description[2] noted,
"WISIGOTHS, Recceswinth (649-672), AV tremissis, 653-672, Tolède. D/ + RECCES-V-INOVS R+ B. stylisé à d. R/ ·+· TOLETO PIVS Croix sur trois degrés. Très rare. Coups sur la tranche. Provient de la collection J. Druart et de Soler y Llach, Barcelone, vente 1083, 16 octobre 2014, 297. Très Beau à Superbe. (Visigoths, Recceswinth, 649-72, gold tremissis, Toledo mint. Obverse: stylized bust right; reverse: cross on plinth with three steps. Very rare, rim nicks, 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 notes Cordova as a rare mint while Toledo is common.
Recorded mintage: unknown.
Specification: gold, the first specimen 1.53 g. The second specimen is 1,27 g.
Catalog reference: the first specimen is Miles 364f; Cayón-379. the second specimen is Cayón-387, Miles 360d var.; C.N.V. 454.6 var.; M.E.C. I, 263 var.
- 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]Goldberg, Ira, Stephen Harvey and Vera Kan, Goldberg NY International 2023 Sale, Los Angeles: Goldberg Coins and Collectibles, 2022.
- [2]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.
Links to:
- Spain (649-72) tremissis, Ispali mint, Recceswinth
- Spain (672-80) tremissis, Ispali mint, Wamba
- Spain (680-87) tremissis, Toledo mint, Erwig
- Coins and currency dated 653