CNG 100, Lot: 408. Estimate $750. Sold for $500. This amount does not include the buyer’s fee.

LOMBARDS, Beneventum. Gregory. 732-739. AV Tremissis (15mm, 1.26 g, 6h). In the name of Byzantine emperor Justinian II (685-695, 705-711). D N NVS P P, crowned bust facing, holding globus cruciger / VICT S* (S retrograde), cross potent; ς to left; CONOB. Cf. CNI XVIII 53 (for rev., obv. similar to 55); cf. BMC Vandals 1. VF, star scratched out on reverse. Rare.

From the collection of Dr. Lawrence A. Adams. Ex John Work Garrett Collection (Part II, Leu/Numismatic Fine Arts, 16 October 1984), lot 568; Ratto (9 December 1930), lot 2388.

Like lot 411 below, there has been an attempt to efface the star on the reverse. The only logical reason for this act was that the star was viewed as a pagan symbol that needed to be eradicated from the coinage.