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OSTROGOTHS. Athalaric. 526-534. AR Half Siliqua (14mm, 1.44 g, 6h). In the name of the Byzantine emperor Justinian I. Ravenna mint. D N IVSTI NIAN ΛVC, pearl-diademed and mantled bust right / Athalaricus monogram, D N flanking; cross above, star below; all within wreath with large central jewel. COI 58a-b var. (obv. legend); Ranieri 280-1 var. (same); MIB 53a-b var. (same; Rome); MEC 1, 125 (same obv. die). Deeply toned, with iridescence. VF. Exceptional for issue.
From the James A. Lock Collection. Ex Numismatic Fine Arts X (17 September 1981), lot 441.
Athalaric was the grandson of the great Ostrogothic king, Theoderic, and succeeded him upon his death around 516, at the age of ten. Doomed to fail, Athalaric’s childhood was chaotic, marked by tension between his regent, overbearing mother, Amalasuntha and the Goth aristocracy, as well as the consequences of poor health. Amalasuntha wanted him to receive a Roman education to become a man of letters, taught in the palace with tutors, while the aristocracy wanted him to have a more aggressive military education with peers his own age, which they believed was required to make a strong Ostrogothic leader. However, the young boys he grew up with steered him toward what his mother would consider depraved and, unfortunately for him fatal. In retrospect it seems that the young king likely suffered from diabetes, based on Procopius’ account, his symptoms included excessive drinking, excessive urination, and weight loss. He seemingly wasted away and died at the age of 18, leaving the kingdom under his mother's control.
The final winners of all CNG Feature Auction 132 lots will be determined at the live online sale that will be held on 18-19 May 2026.
CNG Feature Auction 132 – Session Four – Lot 889-1124 will be held Tuesday afternoon, 19 May 2026 beginning at 2:00 PM ET.
Winning bids are subject to a 22.5% buyer's fee for bids placed on this website and 25% for all others.
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