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This rare ancient coin was struck in the name of Hilderic (460? – 533 AD), the penultimate King of the Vandals. Hilderic’s lineage was an interesting mix of Vandal and Roman Empire aristocracy. He was the son of Vandal King Huneric, and grandson of King Gaiseric, the founder of the Vandal Kingdom in Africa, famous for sacking Rome in 455 AD. Hilderic’s mother was Eudocia, the eldest daughter of Roman Emperor Valentinian III and his wife Empress Licinia Eudoxia.
Prior to Hilderic’s ascension in 523 AD, there was traditionally a strong religious rift between the Vandals Kingdom and the Roman Empire, whose Christian beliefs at the time were split according to Arianism and Chalcedonianism, respectively. Although Hilderic was born an Arian, he converted to his mother’s religion. After Hilderic ascended the Vandal throne, he promoted tolerance, allowing the return of previously exiled Chalcedonians priests and the placement of a Chalcedonian bishop in his Capital city of Carthage. He also established strong relations with Constantinople. Notably, Hilderic forged a strong friendship with future Emperor Justinian, to the point they gifted large sums of money to one another.
Those sums of money that Hilderic gifted to Justinian probably included coins such as this 50 denarii denomination struck at the Carthage mint. This specimen has survived in a remarkable almost uncirculated state of preservation, adding to its rarity. The obverse features Hilderic’s pearl-diademed, draped, and cuirassed bust, looking very reminiscent of late Roman coinage. However, the epithet here, DN HILDERIX REX, reveals a regal, rather than imperial, regime. The reverse depicts a figure holding ears of grain. Had this coin been struck under a pagan ruler, the figure would probably be interpreted as the goddess Tanit, the chief deity of Carthage. By the sixth century, however, paganism had largely given way to an insurmountable tide of monotheism, and Tanit’s status was thus downgraded from divine to personification. Accompanying the grain-toting figure is the reverse inscription FELIX KARTG, denoting Happy Carthage.
Despite the charming message advertised on this coin, not all Carthagians were happy with Hilderic’s religious reversal. Among those who took umbrage was Amalafrida, sister of Ostrogothic King Theoderic the Great and widow of Hilderic’s predecessor, King Thrasamund. Apparently, Amalafrida still had a strong following among the conservative Vandal nobility, and she managed to lead a revolt against Hilderic. Following the rebels’ defeat at the city of Gafsa, Amalafrida was taken prisoner. Even though she remained in prison, Amalafrida still represented a potential liability. Subsequently, Hilderic ordered her execution.
Although Amalfrida was eliminated, another Vandal dynast eventually rose to take her place. In 530 AD, Hilderic was overthrown by his cousin Gelimer. Shortly after taking the Vandal throne, Gelimer reverted the Vandal’s official religion to Arianism once again.
It was now Hilderic’s turn to spend time in prison. When the news of Hilderic’s imprisonment reached Justinian, the Emperor sent emissaries to Carthage demanding that Gelimer release his old friend and return his throne. Gelimer dismissed the envoys, and placed an even tighter watch over his prisoner. When Justinians’ envoys called upon Gelimer a second time, the Vandal King declared that Justinian had authority to command him (at least he responded this time). Justinian was outraged at Gelimer’s response, and he called on Carthage once again, but this time he sent troops rather than diplomats.
The troops transported by Constantinople's formidable fleet numbered at least 10,000 soldiers. Seeing their approach, Gelimer finally understood his peril. Even though Hilderic remained in prison, the former Vandal King still represented a potential liability. Subsequently, Gelimer ordered Hilderic’s execution. Predictably, Justinian was even more resolved to act. The subsequent Vandalic War resulted in the elimination of the Vandal Kingdom, and, at least temporarily, the return of Roman rule over Carthage and the rest of North Africa.
Coin Details: VANDALS, Hilderic, 523-530, AR 50 Denarii (16mm, 1.10 g, 4h), Carthage mint, NGC Grade:AU, Strike: 4/5, Surface: 3/5, Obverse: Pearl-diademed, draped, and cuirassed bust right DN HILDERIX REX, Reverse: Personification of Carthage standing facing, holding three grain ears in each hand, FELIX KARTG, References: MEC 1, 21-2; MIB 8; BMC Vandals 3.