Sale: Triton VIII, Lot: 1290. Estimate $750.  Closing Date: Monday, 10 January 2005.  Sold For $1000. This amount does not include the buyer’s fee.

UNCERTAIN GERMANIC ISSUES. North Italy or Pannonia. Imitating Byzantine Emperor Constantine IV. 668-685 AD. AV "Solidus" (4.76 gm, 6h). Crude pearl-diademed, helmeted, and cuirassed facing bust resembling Constantine IV, holding spear over shoulder in right hand and shield decorated with horseman motif on left arm; legend reduced to VANN / Cross potent on two steps flanked by stick figures of Heraclius and Tiberius with scorpion tails; N above, \ below. MEC 1, -; BMC Vandals -; DOC -; MIB - ; Bouton -; SB -. EF for type. ($750)

This odd imitation was reportedly found with a group of western mint solidi of Constans II and Constantine IV. This would put it in the period of Lombard domination of northern Italy, but it resembles nothing from any Lombard mint. In addition, it is significantly heavier than a standard solidus, and is unlikely to have circulated as such. It may be an irregular imitative issue from the south of Italy, intended for display purposes, not circulation.