'collecting nut' OSTROGOTHS. Theodahad. 534-536 after 40 years of collecting, please share your coin

Theodahad, King of the Goths and Italians, Migration of the
German tribes – Mint Rome​

The last SESTERTIUS


OSTROGOTHS. Theodahad. 534-536. Æ 40 Nummi – Follis. Rome mint. D N THEO - DAHATVS REX, moustached and mantled bust right, wearing ornate Spangenhelm (closed crown ornamented with jewels and two stars) and robe decorated with jewels and large pectoral cross / VICTORIA-PRINCIPVM Victory standing r, Victory standing right on prow of galley, holding palm across left shoulder and wreath in extended right hand; S C across field. Natural green patina.

VICTORIA PRINCIPVM, or “Victory of the Principes”; Augustus employed the term princeps to navigate the treacherous waters of adopting imperial titulature: the term innocuously emphasized his special powers, but avoided the use of the actual title rex, a word which the Romans considered anathema for their leaders. His assumption of the title Augustus provided a convenient solution by emphasizing his specific status and subsequent emperors continued to employ this title. By the time of Theodahad, only the emperor in Constantinople could be designated as Augustus;

Though they had become de facto rulers of Italy by the late fifth century, the Ostrogothic kings were compelled still to recognize the overlordship of the emperor in Constantinople. Consequently, beginning with Theoderic, Ostrogothic coin types and legends followed a prescribed formula. Many of the coins were either copies of Byzantine types, coins struck in the name of the reigning emperor with a monogram of the local king on the reverse, or an “Invicta Roma” type, featuring the bust of Roma on the obverse. On the reverse of this latter type, the name of the Ostrogothic king forms the legend and follows a specific pattern to express the royal position. The D N orDominus Noster which precedes the ruler’s name is a typical Late Roman convention, denoting the special status of the ruler in an exalted position as master over his subjects, while the title REX, or king, was a title allowed for Roman client-kings, or local rulers, who were subject to Roman dominion and sympathetic to the Roman cause. At no point prior to the reign of Theodahad did the Ostrogothic kings adopt any other Roman-style regnal title on their coinage.

Theodahad was the nephew of the first Ostrogothic king, Theoderic. Although he hoped to establish a strong relationship with Constantinople, he was apparently unsuccessful, in part due to his political ineptitude demonstrated on this coin. This issue, featuring his crowned bust on the obverse and Victory on the reverse has two legend varieties. any other ruler using this title would be not only overstepping protocol, but also usurping the imperial position as well. As he was now ruler in Italy and a descendant of Theoderic, who was himself compared to past great Roman emperors, Theodahad felt he was in a position to shake off Byzantine overlordship and adopt the imperial title of Augustus on his coinage. This bold first step clearly caused political fallout, for he was immediately forced to replace the AVGVST with the less direct PRINCIPVM. Theodahad’s troubles did not end there; his apparently high-handed practices in Italy compelled the emperor Justinian I to restore direct Byzantine rule in Italy. In 536, Justinian’s general, Belisarius, defeated the Ostrogothic king in battle, and Theodahad was subsequently murdered on the orders of his successor, Witiges.

 

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What a beautiful coin. I'm interested in Vandals and Goths, too, but when I started buying these coins, I was let down every time, because they turned out to be puny, worn and in terrible style. But this one is excellent (and what a nice name, Theodahad). What are its dimensions?

 

Gorgeous coin, especially for the time period.

 

Oooow my, Jango is definitely gonna love that OP-winner, eh? (sweet example, congrats)

 

Is that yours? An awesome example. Theodahad's 40 nummi follis is very high on my list. I just have a decanummium of him:

 

Magnificent!

 

Superb coin!

 

Æ 10.27 grams 26mm
Jeff

 

Pretty large and heavy, too. Excellent!

 

what an AWESOME coin SWK!

 

I am too jealous over the OP coin to make comment.

 

Why the heck did the Goths struck bronze coins?

I have read and thought that after the Western Roman Empire collapsed a new society emerged out of germanian tribal hemisphere. They did not have formal laws as the (Eastern) Roman Empire as they relied on family kinships, and NOR did they have monetary system. It was first during the High Middle Ages around 1000CE or so that Western Europe saw monetary system in bronze in the same manner as Byzantine Empire.

Did the Goths have bronze coins that circulated like the contemporary Byzantine Follis? Or did the Goths just struck them for fun?

 

The Visigoths were slow to strike coins but the Ostrogoths did it right from the onset after taking Italy. They were highly Romanized (ie. not "mindless savages") and recognized the importance of maintaining the Roman civil government and the monetary system. Plus striking Roman style coins was another way to help win over the local population. They later followed the monetary reform that took place in the neighboring Byzantine Empire and struck denominational bronzes.

 

It's very nice indeed... fantastic coin!!!!

 

Love the obverse legend, reads like something from jurassic park.
THEODAHATUS REX

 

That is the nicest of the type I have ever seen, awesome

 

That is an outstanding coin! Definitely gentle to the eyes!!!!

 

Hi SwK

This coin Theodahad is it for sale, wonderful 'eye appeal' ?

It is fantastic

Devi

 

Wow, wow, and wow!! Nicest I have seen.

 

That coin is absolutely the best example I have ever seen anywhere!!! I'd LOVE to own.... simply magnificent!!!!. Congats @SwK

Wonderful narrative as well!