Visigothic tremisses struck in Justinian's name occupy an awkward political position: the kingdom was nominally independent yet minted gold coinage acknowledging Byzantine imperial authority, likely to facilitate trade with eastern merchants who would only accept coin bearing a recognized emperor's name. This was not submission — it was commerce.
MEC I, 193 places this issue within the broader Visigothic imitative series, where die-cutting quality varies sharply. Some specimens show careful copying of Byzantine prototypes; others betray provincial engravers working from worn exemplars rather than fresh originals.
Visigothic tremisses struck in Justinian's name occupy an awkward political position: the kingdom was nominally independent yet minted gold coinage acknowledging Byzantine imperial authority, likely to facilitate trade with eastern merchants who would only accept coin bearing a recognized emperor's name. This was not submission — it was commerce.
MEC I, 193 places this issue within the broader Visigothic imitative series, where die-cutting quality varies sharply. Some specimens show careful copying of Byzantine prototypes; others betray provincial engravers working from worn exemplars rather than fresh originals.