THE OSTROGOTHS
Theoderic, 493-526
Pseudo-Imperial Coinage. In the name of Anastasius, 491-518 . Tremissis, Roma 493-526, AV 1.23 g. DN ANASTA – SIVS PF AVC Pearl-diademed, draped and cuirassed bust r. Rev. VICTORIA AVCVSTORVM Victory advancing r. with bust three-quarters l., holding wreath in r. hand and globus cruciger in l.; on either sides in field, star, and in exergue, COMOB. BMC Vandals 67. MIB I, 11. MEC I, –. Metlich 13a.
Very rare. Good very fine
Ex Cahn 75, 30 May 1932, Donaveschinger, 1793, and Leu-NFA 18 October 1984, Garrett part II, 494 sales. The real coins for the Germanic tribes were the tremisses. The Ostrogoths were inspired by the Byzantines and they coined tremisses with same style and types but with two principal differences: the sigla COMOB instead of CONOB and a cross in the hand of the Victory. In fact, after a few years the globus cruciger, typical of Byzantine coins, was replaced with a simple cross. Probably these tremisses with two stars were struck by a second officina that occasionally produced coins.