Five Important Visigothic Rarities

Triton XVII, Lot: 898. Estimate $10000. Sold for $8500. This amount does not include the buyer’s fee.

VISIGOTHS, Spain. Liuva II. 601-603. AV Tremissis (19mm, 1.44 g, 6h). Eliberri (Granada) mint. + D N LIVVΛ REX, facing bust / + PIVS LIBERRI, facing bust. CNV 134; MV 162(a); Miles, Visigoths –; MEC 1 –. EF, toned. Extremely rare.

The son of Reccared I, succeeded his father to the throne in 601, when he was only eighteen years old. During his short reign, Liuva II, he came into conflict with Witteric. Ostensibly given command of an army to drive the Byzantines from Spain, Witteric instead used it to overcome Liuva II. In 603, Witteric invaded the royal palace. He deposed the king, going so far as to cutting off Liuva's right hand; later the king was condemned and executed.