Visigothic Pseudo-Imperial Solidus

The Visigothic Pseudo-Imperial Solidus was so meticulously copied from Roman prototypes that it often passed as the real thing in daily transactions across fifth-century Spain.

These gold coins, weighing around 4.5 grams, featured emperors like Honorius or Theodosius on the obverse, with the reverse showing a standing figure or a winged victory—exact echoes of late Roman designs. The Visigoths struck them to maintain economic stability after Rome's withdrawal, using local gold supplies that were probably recycled from older hoards.

We don't know the exact mints involved; most were likely in southern Spain, though records are scarce. What’s clear is that production varied, with some pieces showing crude strikes that give away their imitation status.

Counterfeiting currency is as old as money itself, and these solidi prove it.

Debates persist about their total output; no reliable figures survived the ages.