★ A curious reverse ★

UNCERTAIN GERMANIC TRIBES, Pseudo-Imperial coinage. Late 3rd-early 4th centuries. 'Aureus' (Gold, 19 mm, 3.00 g, 12 h), 'Derived Plated Group'. OI WN LO OOIIIILZIII Laureate and cuirassed imperial bust to right. Rev. Uncertfain female figure standing facing, holding spear in her right hand and wreath in her left; around, imitative legend in the form of a ring of pellets within incuse annulets. A lovely and unusual piece. Holed and with minor scrapes, otherwise, very fine.

From the Aurum Barbarorum Collection.

The style of the obverse bust with its pointy nose and fancy cuirass decoration reveals that this is a later imitation of the 'Plated Group' (see lot 1913 above), albeit in solid gold. What is particularly charming about this coin is the reverse: it replaces the usual imitative legends with a ring of pellets in incuse annulets, thereby giving it the flair of a pendant - which it actually was, of course!