THE OSTROGOTHS
Athalaric, 526-534
Pseudo-Imperial Coinage. In the name of Justinian I, 527-565 . Half siliqua, Mediolanum (?) circa 527-534, AR 1.07 g. DN IVSTINIA – [NVS P AVC] Pearl-diademed, draped and cuirassed bust r. Rev. Monogram of Athalaric: in field above, cross. All within wreath. BMC Vandals –, cf. 33 (Ravenna). Kraus –, cf. 44 (Ravenna). MIB I –, cf. 53b (Ravenna). MEC I, –. Metlich –, cf. 58b (Ravenna).
Apparently unrecorded. Light iridescent tone and extremely fine
Ex NAC-Leu 26 May 1993, 449, and Vecchi I, 1996, 220 sales.
The only parallels we have for this coin are equally crude issues in the name of Theoderic which have also been ascribed to Mediolanum. Some silver issues of Theoderic and Athalaric exhibit a remarkably barbarous style somewhat akin to issues given to Sirmium. In any event, Mediolanum issues of this type are very much rarer than normal issues, and the possibility that they may turn out to have been contemporary imitations cannot be excluded.