196, Lot: 444. Estimate $750. Sold for $1451. This amount does not include the buyer’s fee.

UNCERTAIN GERMANIC TRIBES, Germany (Rhine Valley). Mid-late 5th century. AV Solidus (22mm, 4.41 g, 12h). Imitating Ravenna mint. Struck in the name of Valentinian III. Rosette-diademed, draped, and cuirassed bust right; pellet behind / Emperor standing facing with foot on human-headed serpent, holding long cross and Victory on globe. G. Depeyrot, “Les solidi gaulois de Valentinian III,” SNR 65 (1986), group c, 2. Good VF, hairline flan crack, scratch on reverse. Very rare.

Depeyrot located nineteen examples of these imitations of Valentinian with a pellet in the obverse field. He noted two varieties based on the position of the pellet, which occurs either below the AVG in the legend or behind the portrait. Practically all of the known examples are from hoards found in the Rhine Valley. Interestingly, all bear the mint signature of Ravenna, save for a single specimen marked as Rome.