Owner Comments:
Similar to their Greek predecessors, ancient Romans largely classified all people of other races and nationalities as “barbarians.” The obvious problem with such delineation is that the Roman Empire kept assimilating new lands and cultures; previously reviled barbarians evolved into new tax-paying citizens of the Empire.
Throughout its history, the Roman Empire battled barbarians at nearly every border, ranging from minor incursions to full-scale wars. The list of specific barbarian tribes figuring in Roman Empire history is prodigious: Alans, Berbers, Burgundians, Carpi, Frisii, Huns, Jutes, Lombards, Picts, Sarmatians, Scots, Suevi, Vandals - just to name a few. It might seem unfair compiling them together, since each had their own origins, customs, beliefs, and so on. Even so, that was probably the viewpoint of many ancient Romans: barbarians were just that, and a threat unless they could be controlled, contained, or otherwise exploited, for instance as slaves.
Interactions between Romans and barbarians began long before the Empire. For example, Germanic barbarian tribes (relevant to the Empire’s ultimate downfall) originated in Scandinavia and moved southward over the first millennium BC. By the time of Julius Caesar, they had reached the Rhine, in fact, Caesar noted them as a serious future threat to Rome. Another couple centuries later, they had expanded to the Danube basin and occupied north of Italy to the east (mainly the Gepids, Ostrogoths, Vandals, and Visigoths) and west (mainly the Alamanni, Angles, Franks, Marcomanni, and Saxons). These clan-based tribes had rudimentary agricultural and husbandry skills, resulting in slow population growth. They tended to emphasize war, however, their capacity in this regard was low given their technological state and lack of large-scale political or military organization.
Over time, the barbarians grew more sophisticated. Some barbarians started forming larger associations, perhaps to more successfully raid Roman territories. In the early 3rd century AD, southern Germans barbarians came together into mainly the Alamanni, middle Rhine groups incorporated into the Franks, and North Germans converged as Saxons. By the 4th century AD, there was a continuous barbarian belt all along Rome's frontier from the North Sea to the Euxinus Pontus (Black Sea).
Barbarians came into increasing contact with Roman civilization, admiring the material aspects of the Empire’s culture, such as arms, domestic wares, and, of course, coinage. Soon barbarians were giving it a go themselves, either imitating Roman designs, or attempting their own. Collecting such ancient barbarous issues is a fascinating endeavor. Unfortunately, barbarous coinage has not been extensively studied, and precise identification often proves difficult. This coin, probably struck in mid to late 4th century AD, provides an example. NGC Ancients attributes it as a “barbarian nummus,” and the coin's style invokes official Empire issues of Constantius II, The details of this coin are impressive, from the rugged-looking obverse bust to the reverse portrayal of soldiers holding a standard with an interesting mintmark in exergue.
Starting around the time this coin was struck (mid 4th century AD), the barbarian barrage increased dramatically. This was the beginning of what is referred to as the Migration Period, also known as the Völkerwanderung, marked by intensified human migration throughout Europe lasting until the early Middle Ages. The early excursions involved the Germanic tribes, but soon, they kept moving westward, under pressure by additional tribes arriving from the east, particularly the fearsome Huns. Like many barbarians before them, the Huns were willing to accept Roman bribes to keep at bay, at least for a short while. The price for peace was steep and on a dramatic upward trend, reflecting the barbarians’ growing appetite for wealth that eventually rivaled Rome’s. This subsidization strategy was not a long-term solution, and, considering the rapidly diminishing technology gap, neither was containment by military force. The Völkerwanderung was not to be denied.
Increasingly, barbarians assimilated into Roman society, for example joining the Roman military, where they learned new tactics, acquired better materials, and came to admire Roman society even more. Many barbarians openly sought recognition as Roman soldiers, officers, and officials. The Romanization of barbarians was now unstoppable, and ultimately resulted in the Babarianization of Rome.
COIN DETAILS: ROMAN EMPIRE, BARBAROUS ISSUE, c. mid-late 4th Century AD, Barbarian 'Nummus', NGC Grade: Ch AU, Strike: 4/5, Surface: 4/5, Obverse: Rosette diademed bust right CONSTANTI-VS PF AVG, Reverse: Soldiers with standard, GLORIA EXERCITVS, TRP Cresent mint mark in exergue, Reference: RIC VIII Trier 108.