Athalaric...the Teenage Ostrogoth King

I just got this coin from the Ostrogothic ruler Athalaric (A.D. 526- 534). He became ruler of the Ostrogoths at age 10, after the death of his grandfather Theodoric the Great; though his mother actually ran the kingdom. Athalaric was rumored to party and drink heavily as a teenager (what do you expect from a teenage King?) and passed away from an illness at around 18 years old; maybe from diabetes. So not much of a ruler; but his coinage is awesome.




Athalaric. A.D. 526- 534 Æ Decanummium (1/100th pound fine style) (18mm 3.2g) Rome mint. INVICTA ROMA, helmeted and cuirassed (Gorgon? on chest) bust of Roma right. D N ATALRICVS S-C, Athalaric in military attire, standing right and holding spear and shield, X (mark of value) in field. COI 85b; MIB 77; MEC 132.


I collect Ostrogothic coinage because it is actually a continuation of late Roman coinage. The obverse of this coin has Roma with the legend of INVICTA ROMA (undefeated Rome). The reverse has S-C (SENATVS CONSVLTO) across the fields which means this coin was approved by the senate; just like previous Roman coinage. Athalaric even uses the title D N (DOMINVS NOSTER) which means “our Lord” which first appeared on abdication issues of Diocletian and Maximianus.

This coin also has an alternate spelling of ATALRICVS, leaving out the H of Athalaric’s name. This coin is an upgrade of an example I already had in my collection. The new one, even holed, is in much better condition and is in finer style. Metlich (The Coinage of Ostrogothic Italy) even differentiates between “coarse style” (85a) and “fine style” (85b)


Here is my other example of “coarse style”. In 1920, it sold for $4.50; which is a little over $70 today.








Michael Metlich The Coinage of Ostrogothic Italy (2004)

Wolfgang Hahn Moneta Imperii Byzantini volume I (1973)

Philip Grierson Medieval European Coinage vol I (1986)

 

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Amazing acquisition, Victor.

Do you know why it has a hole in it? Was it worn as jewelry at one time or some other reason?

 

I assume it was worn as jewelry. The obverse would have been displayed, so maybe someone with more pro Roman feelings.