1 Aureus - Imitating Diocletian, 284-305, or Maximian, 285-305

Barbarous imitations of Roman aurei circulated widely in Germanic territories during the late third and early fourth centuries, produced by tribes with enough exposure to Roman coinage to copy the form but without access to imperial mints or consistent gold supply. The gold-plated bronze construction here was not crude deception — it served local exchange functions in economies where the symbolic weight of Roman-style coinage mattered more than metallic purity.

At 21 grams and under 6mm diameter, the proportions are wildly inconsistent with any genuine aureus, suggesting the die-cutter was working from memory or a worn exemplar rather than a fresh official piece.