Coins, Tokens and Historical Medals

France, Merovingian, psuedo-Imperial Tremissis in the name of Justin I (518-27), possibly Saulieu, d n ivst nvs p f avi, pearl diademed and draped bust right, rev. victoamvsvitoravm, cross calvary flanked by s e, 1.29g/6h (cf. MEC 415). Weak on face, otherwise very fine, residual bloom £1,500-£1,800

Provenance: Found at Berkswell (West Midlands), October 2020 (EMC 2020.0395).

Upon initial viewing this coin appears to exhibit signs of double striking on the obverse in the outline of the emperor’s face. Interestingly, there are no signs of double striking elsewhere on the obverse. That the two profiles seemingly diverge in areas (particularly in the depiction of the nose) suggests that this doubling is part of the design engraved onto the die and not the result of erroneous minting. Grierson and Blackburn note that several late 6th century tremisses of Autun in Burgundy feature jugate busts (MEC p.132). The authors suggest that this feature was peculiar to that city and probably resulted from imitating a mis-struck Roman prototype. The possible appearance of the feature on this coin, which has been tentatively attributed to nearby Saulieu in Provence, would indicate that this formed part of a wider regional practice