Kingdom of the Ostrogoths; Teja (?); AR 1/4 Siliqua; 552-553 or later.
Obv. Pearl-diademed and draped bust of Justinian I (barbarized) to the right. A barbarized legend.
Rv. PK letters in a mirror image within a wreath.
Silver, 0.43 g, 10 mm, 7h. See BMC Vandals p. 116-7 no. 63-5 (years 555-565); MIB I 76 (official issue, Rome); DOC I p. 182 no. 336 (official issue, Ravenna, 552-565).
Grade: Good VF/Near XF.
The offered coin is a barbaric imitation of 1/4 siliqua (= 120 nummi) of Justinian I from the mint of Ravenna (or Rome). It is usually dated to the late years of this emperor's reign, between 552 and 565. The portrait is schematic, as is the lettering on the obverse. The wreath also differs in style from the regular one. The letters PK are made decently, but they are mirror reversed. Low weight. If this is an Ostrogothic imitation, the only possible candidate would be Teja, whose death in 552 or 553 ended the existence of the Ostrogothic Kingdom in Italy. Perhaps the presented specimen should be associated with the activities of the Gepids in the Sirmium area.
