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1 Quinarius - Imitating Diocletian, 284-305, and Maximian, 285-305
| Issuer | Uncertain Germanic tribes |
|---|---|
| Year | 285-325 |
| Type | Log in to see details |
| Value | Log in to see details |
| Currency | Log in to see details |
| Composition | Gold |
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| Diameter | Log in to see details |
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| In circulation to | Log in to see details |
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| Obverse description | Log in to see details |
|---|---|
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| Reverse description | Barbarous imitation of the Roman reverse type depicting two standing figures facing one another, likely a crude rendering of the Hercules and Jupiter or imperial co-rulers motif associated with the tetrarchic period. The figures are rendered in a schematic, flat style with minimal anatomical detail, their postures loosely suggesting a ceremonial or military interaction. A garbled pseudo-legend composed of debased Latin letterforms surrounds the scene, representing a corrupt transcription of an original Roman reverse inscription. The exergue area contains further degraded letter-like symbols. The coin's reverse, like the obverse, shows a suspension hole at the top, confirming its use as a pendant or votive piece rather than circulating currency. |
| Reverse script | Latin |
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| Edge | Log in to see details |
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| Additional information |
Germanic imitations of late Roman gold circulated widely along the frontier zones during the late third and early fourth centuries, produced by tribal workshops that had no interest in Roman denominational logic but understood gold's weight-based utility perfectly well. The quinarius format — half the aureus — was copied opportunistically, often from whatever coins entered the region through payment, trade, or plunder during the constant military pressures of Diocletian's frontier campaigns.
Attribution to specific tribal groups remains impossible in most cases. The Calicó reference is approximate, reflecting how thinly documented this imitative series remains in the scholarly literature.