★ The Merovingians ★

MEROVINGIANS, Pseudo-Imperial coinage. temp. Clovis I-Clotaire I. 481-560. AV Tremissis (14mm, 1.47 g, 8h). Imitating an issue of the Byzantine emperor Anastasius I (491-518). Uncertain mint. IΛVITΛ SIVOVIIVC, pearl-diademed, draped, and cuirassed bust right / VICTORI Λ CVSTO, Victory advancing right, holding palm frond over left shoulder and wreath in outstretched right hand; IIVI. Tomasini Group A 2c, 62 (same dies); NM –; MEC 1, –. Slight soft strike on reverse, minor edge flaw. EF. Apparently extremely rare.

This coin has stylistic affinities with Burgundian issues, see lots 1016 & 1017 above.