★ The so-called 'Sleipnir'-reverse ★

UNCERTAIN GERMANIC TRIBES, Pseudo-Imperial coinage. Late 3rd-early 4th centuries. 'Aureus' (Gold, 19 mm, 5.64 g, 12 h), imitating one of the later barracks emperors. ԷISIIOIԷ[...]ԷƆƆHHFMC Laureate and cuirassed imperial bust to right. Rev. O[...]II∾ ƆƆIIƆH∾IHԵ Male figure with bird-like head in stylized biga to right. A very interesting piece of wonderfully abstract style. Holed and with a few scrapes and scratches, otherwise, very fine.

From the Aurum Barbarorum Collection.

The abstract style of this piece is quite amazing. It clearly imitates the Victory-in-biga-aurei of the later barracks emperors, but the Germanic artist who cut the dies has managed to change the reverse into a wonderful piece of local art: we see a long-maned and bird-mouthed figure riding a chariot to the right, drawn by a wolf-headed, double-eared and eight-legged horse reminiscent of Sleipnir, the famous horse of Odin from medieval Norse mythology.