UNCERTAIN GERMANIC TRIBES, Pseudo-Imperial coinage. Mid 3rd-early 4th centuries. 'Aureus' (Gold, 18 mm, 2.51 g, 12 h), ‘Early Group’. Imitating Marcus Aurelius, 161-180. XNAVИDDO CXXИVΛИTJ Laureate head of Marcus Aurelius to right. Rev. II CS O CΛO Mars standing right, holding spear in his right hand and shield in his left. A few scrapes and with the suspension loop broken off, otherwise, about very fine.

From the Aurum Barbarorum Collection.

Stylistically, the portrait of Marcus Aurelius on this coin is very close to the Roman originals. However, the artist was obviously illiterate and replaced the Latin legends with carefully placed but meaningless characters. It is worth noting that the reverse is far less evolved, which perhaps points towards a different die cutter.