Owner Comments:
While the evidence is admittedly scarce, it appears that Fortuna did not look too kindly upon Athalaric (516-534 AD) son of Theoderic. Right from the start, Athalaric had live in the shadow of his grandfather, whose impressive statesmanship and military prowess spawned one of the world’s greatest realms since the collapse of Roman Empire in the West. Not to mention that Athalaric was only ten when he ascended the Ostrogoth throne. Even though the boy King inherited a realm of remarkable peace and prosperity, it was all destined to unravel at the drop of a pileus.
Stepping in to serve as regent for the young King of the Ostrogoths was his mother Amalasuintha, daughter of Theoderic and a Frankish princess. Besides passing down to Athalaric an eclectic mix of barbarian blood, Amalasuintha also wished to indoctrinate him in Roman customs and traditions. Until Athalaric would come of age, Amalasuintha wielded the real power, and she used it to steer the realm on the same course set by her father.
Part of that agenda was to strike coins in the tradition of the Romans Emperors of old. The current quarter siliqua, struck in Ravenna circa 530 AD, provides an example of coinage struck in Athalaric’s name, and it seems reasonable that Amalasuintha at least approved of its design. On the obverse is a pearl-diademed and mantled bust facing right. From the obverse inscription DN IVSTINIANVS P AVG, this figure is positively identified as Our Lord the Pius Augustus Justinian. Turning over the coin reveals the very straightforward design of the inscription D N / ATHAL / ARICVS / REX, denoting Our Lord King Athalaric. This pairing of Augustus Justinian of the Byzantine Empire and Ostrogoth King Athalaric reflects the friendship previously forged between Justinian and Theoderic, and maintained by the current Ostrogoth regime. This pairing of Justinian and Athalaric also promotes good relations between their two realms more broadly.
Despite their intent, the mother and son combo’s hold on power was problematic. Ostrogoth society was male-oriented and disfavored pro-Byzantine sensibilities. Moreover, Athalaric was expected to live up to the reputation of his esteemed grandfather, which was not an easy task. Finally, the young Athalaric was under pressure to conform to Gothic norms and undergo leadership training according to the Gothic way of life. Ancient accounts, which should be considered with some caution, describe that such training included partying and very heavy drinking. So intense was the revelry that it ruined Athalaric’s constituion and ultimately led to his death by the age of only eighteen years of age. The Ostrogoth Kingdom that rose so rapidly under Theoderic was now headed for a similarly swift rate of decline
Coin Details: OSTROGOTHS, Athalaric, 526-534 AD, AR Quarter Siliqua (11mm, 0.68 g, 6h) struck in the name of Justinian I, circa AD 526-534 AD, Ravenna, NGC Grade: AU, Strike: 5/5, Surface: 4/5, Obverse: Pearl-diademed and mantled bust right DN IVSTINIANVS P AVG, Reverse: D N / ATHAL / ARICVS / REX in four lines within wreath, References: COI 59; Ranieri 282; MIB 54; MEC I, 127.