Ostrogothic Tremissis

The Ostrogothic tremissis, a diminutive gold coin, was typically struck on flans weighing about 1.5 grams, mirroring the Byzantine solidus it derived from.

This made it a practical tool for trade in a fragmented Italy under kings like Theodoric. Designs often featured a profile bust on the obverse and a cross on the reverse, borrowed straight from Eastern Roman prototypes. Mints were likely in places like Rome or Ravenna, though exact locations remain debated.

We don't know the precise mintage figures; records from that era are scarce. What I can say is that handling these coins over the years reveals their surprising durability, despite the Ostrogoths' short-lived rule.

Some experts still argue over whether these were official issues or improvisations by local workshops. It's a coin that underscores how currency persisted amid chaos.