THE OSTROGOTHS
Athalaric, 526-534
Pseudo-Imperial Coinage. In the name of Justin I, 518-527 . Solidus, Roma 526-527, AV 4.36 g. DN IVSTI – NVS PP AVC Pearl-diademed, helmeted and cuirassed bust facing, three-quarters r., holding spear and decorated shield with horseman and fallen enemy motif. Rev. VICTOR – I – A AVCCC D Victory standing l., holding long jewelled cross; in l. field, star, and in exergue, CONOB. BMC Vandals cf. 14 (COMOB). Kraus cf. 28 (COMOB, Theoderich). MIB cf. 24 (COMOB). MEC I, –. Metlich cf. 32 (COMOB).
An apparently unrecorded and unique variety. Several edge marks,
traces of mounting, otherwise very fine
Ex CNG sale 39, 1996, 1831.
While the exergue appears to read CONOB, in our opinion this is simply an M that did not strike well.
Only Arslan cites an example similar to this apparently unique coin (Arslan 1978, 50) but it has COMOB as opposed to CONOB in the exergue. The other contemporary types of the mint of Rome have some different epigraphic and stylistic peculiarities.