CNG 100, Lot: 415. Estimate $3000. Sold for $2200. This amount does not include the buyer’s fee.

LOMBARDS, Beneventum. Anonymous. Mid 8th century. AV Solidus (21mm, 4.01 g, 6h). In the name of Byzantine emperor Justinian II (685-695, 705-711), with types of Anastasius II (713-715). D N I – ••• – INVS P P, crowned bust facing, holding globus cruciger and akakia / VICTOR (filled inverted Δ)ςVςTO, cross potent on globe set on four steps; hand in left field; CONOB. CNI XVIII p. 149 (Interregno), 1 (same dies); BMC Vandals (Uncertain) 5 = Oddy 413 (same dies). EF, toned. Very rare.

From the collection of Dr. Lawrence A. Adams. Ex Collection N.K. [Nadia Kapamadji] (Bourgey, 27 October 1992), lot 758.

Wroth (BMC Vandals) believed this type dated to the reign of Gisulf II, a claim that was corroborated by Oddy. However, the fact that the traditional initials were omitted from the reverse field in favor of a hand suggests that this coin was issued by an uncertain, non-regal authority.

All known specimens of this issue appear to be struck from the same obverse die. Most of these likely originated from a hoard discovered in Benevento around 1878 (BMC Vandals, p. 191 note).