Sale: CNG 61, Lot: 2191. Estimate $600.  Closing Date: Wednesday, 25 September 2002.  Sold For $620. This amount does not include the buyer’s fee.

LOMBARDIC KINGDOM OF ITALY. LIUTPRAND. 712-744. AV Tremissis (1.17 gm). Pavia mint. [.......] NI PP RX, Diademed bust right; M over :. before / SCS•-•MHIIL•, St. Michael standing facing. Cf. Bernareggi pg. 151, 85, BMC Vandals pg. 143, 1 and CNI IV pg. 462, 16. EF, light die rust. Rare. ($600)

From Rothari to Liutprand the Lombard kings strove to enlarge their boundaries, and contended with the aristocracy of dukes inherent in the original organization of the nation, such as at Spoleto, Perugia and Benevento. However, they were surrounded by enemies: the Franks, Slavs and Huns to the north, the papacy at the center and the Byzantines in the south and east. Liutprand and Aistulf came very close to creating a unified Italy, but their successes led directly to the events that brought the Lombard kingdom to an end.