A Valens medallion is taken to south-western Germany

2013.11.29 -

On 21 November 2013 A. Bursche and A. Zapolska sought consultation in south-western Germany on a little known gold medallion of Emperor Valens struck at Antioch, weighing nearly 200 g, with a loop, from a private collection. This is presumably a multiple, gone missing for 200 years, from the outstanding Migration Period deposit discovered at Szilágy Somlyó in north-western Transylvania, now Şimleu-Silvaniei in Romania (see Thesaurus and figure 1). The medallion is a sensation both for researchers and collectors. Illustrations of this find will become available only after its publication.

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  Barbarian imitation of Valens medalion (obvers), Kunsthistorisches Museum, Wien.

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  Barbarian imitation of Valens medalion (revers), Kunsthistorisches Museum, Wien.