I put a "proxy" bid on this coin, a month ago. After reading the description/ I figured that my chances of success where ZERO. Sometimes you are blessed by good luck I got their e-mail/ invoice today. The coin is unlisted in Grierson/ Prou/ all other publications. Regnum Francorum/ Merovingians Theudebert II 582-612AD King of Austrasia/ Auvergne AV Triens ND Brivate Mint (Brioud) today 1.28 12mm .990 obv: Head Left/ TEDOBERTIRIX rev: AR BRIVATE FT Merovingian coinage is found in three categories: First Period- Coins in name of Eastern Roman Emperor/ same style Second Period: Regnal Issues with name of King/ Mint Third Period: National Issues with name of Moneyer/ Mint Of the 32 Merovingian Kings/ only 12 are featured on all the coins that are in collections today. This is the only coin known from this King.
Slight clarification: this is the only issue from this king (and there multiple examples known?) Or, this is literally the single only coin known from this king?
According to the coin description on Heritage/ Europe Auction lot #3691 Its the only gold coin (Triens) known from this king. The definative work on this coinage is from Prou/ not listed. I would think. this coin was from a very old coll. unknown to numismatic circles/ or was a recent metal det. find????
Then in that case, this is truly a fantastic and extraordinary addition to your already magnificent collection. Congratulations, my auric friend.
Also received an invoice today from the Heritage Europe auction for a coin I thought I had no chance of winning. I've been after a Koson drachm for some time but always fell short, so the surprise invoice was just that, a very pleasant surprise. Northern Greece - Thrace - Geto-Dacians / Koson - AR Drachm (Olbia?, c. 50 BC, 4.36 g) - Roman consul stepping left, preceded and followed by two lictors holding fasces, monogram to left (Olbia?), KOΣΩN in ex. / Eagle, wings spread, standing left on scepter, holding wreath with right talon (cf. RPC I 1701 (AV Stater) / cf. BMC Thrace p. 208, 2 (AV Stater)) - VF/XF, attractive piece, RR, very rare. This is the silver version of the famous gold stater of Koson. They are both copied from Roman Republican Denarii: M. Iunius Brutus (Crawf. 433/1, without monogram and with KOΣΩN instead of BRVTVS) for the obverse and Pomponius Rufus (Crawf. 398/1, without Q POMPONI and head backwards) for the reverse.
I've just been reading about the Merovingian kings in Gibbon, fascinating bit of history for sure. Congrats on the unexpected win!
A very neat coin @panzerman! I had the privilege of seeing the coin in person before the auction and shortly spoke to one of the cataloguers about this Tremissis. He considered it one of the top coins on auction! It looked much nicer in hand, altough it is waaay tiny. But the portrait is awe-inspiring!