Spain (672-80) tremissis
This specimen was lot 453 in Jean Elsen sale 164 (Brussels, March 2026), where it sold for €1,600 (about US$2,228 including buyer's fees). The catalog description[1] noted,
"WISIGOTHS, Wamba (672-680), AV tremissis, Ispali. D/ + I·Δ·INM VVΛMBΛ R+ B. stylisé à d. R/ + *ISPΛLI PIVS (fleur) Croix sur trois degrés. Rare. Fines griffes. Provient de la collection J. Druart et de Soler y Llach, Barcelone, vente 1073, 25 octobre 2012, 232. Très Beau à Superbe. (Visigoths, Wamba, 672-80, gold tremissis, Ispali mint. Obverse: stylized bust right; reverse: cross on plinth with three steps. Rare, hairlines, 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. This example is from Seville, one of five mints which struck this type.
Recorded mintage: unknown.
Specification: gold. This specimen is 1,28 g.
Catalog reference: Cayón-391, Miles 392b; C.N.V. 474.1.
- 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.
- [1]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 (649-72) tremissis, Ispali mint, Recceswinth
- Spain (653-72) tremissis, Cordoba and Toledo mints, Recceswinth
- Spain (680-87) tremissis, Toledo mint, Erwig
- Coins and currency dated 672