Hi Maciej!
I have similar coins in my
collection. Here is one of them:
Valentinian II, barbarious
overstruck on an official coin
AE4, 1.36g
struck 383-392
obv. [DN VA]LENTINI[ANVS PF
AVG]
bust, draped and diademed, pearl-diademed, r.
rev. [
SALVS REI] - PVBLIC[AE]
Victory advancing l., holding
trophy and dragging captive
overstruck by HONORIVS
rev. VIRTVS EXERCITITheodosius II,
barbaric overstruck on official coin
I have made the following note:
This
overstruck type is usually linked to the Codex Theodosianus edict from Apr.12th, 395 AD. But this connection is probably not valid, though the coins can certainly be dated to ca.395-401 AD. The more likely explanation is that the counterfeiters were attempting to take advantage of the lack of familiarity of the people with the newly issued
VIRTVS EXERCITI type by converting the old
SALVS REIPVBLICAE AE4’s (with an
average weight of around 1.1 to 1.2 grams) into the new
VIRTVS EXERCITI AE3’s (with an
average weight of about 2.3 to 2.4 grams). The obvious advantage to such
fraud would be the doubling of the nominal value of the coin, the profit belonging, obviously, to the “moneyer” (from
Ancient Coins Canada).
I think that can be true for your coin too. The connection to the
Vandals is new for me!
Best regards