Rights Holder: Kent County Council
CC License: 
Image use policy
Our images can be used under a CC BY attribution licence (unless stated otherwise).
COIN
Unique ID: KENT-BDF44E
Object type certainty: Certain
Workflow
status: Awaiting validation 
A hardly worn Early-Meideval gold tremissis of 'national civic' series origininating in Northern Frankia (modern France/Belguim), possibly minted at Silvanectis (Senlis, France) by the moneyer 'BABBA' or 'BVBBA', c. AD600.
Obverse: A degraded pearl-diademed, draped and cuirassed bust, facing right. Inscription: "BABBA" (Retrograde) or 'BVBBA'
Reverse: Globe and Cross. Incription: 'SILVATACAN' (starting at 6 o'clock)
Measurements: Weight: 1.34g, Diameter 13.67mm, Thickness: 0.88mm
Discussion: An almost identical coin to this example exists in the collection of the Bibliotheque Nationale, Paris (1992/129 BNF). These two coins appear to be die linked, showing little to no variation between the two. Both coins are attibruted to Northern Frankia although the exact moneyer and mint are uncertain. John Naylor National finds advisor on Early-Medieval coins has suggested, based on similar garbled inscriptions, that the mint named on the coin (Silvatacan) may be a garbling of Silvanectis (Senlis, France). It is not possible to be certain however. Both this coin and 1992/129 BNF share a similar gold fineness between 93%-94% as assesed by Dr Arent Pol using specific gravity measurements.
Notes:
We thank Dr.Pol for both his measurements and for pointing us to the near identical coin 1992/129 BNF.
Find of note status
This is a find of note and has been designated: For inclusion in British Numismatic Journal ‘Coin Register’
Subsequent actions
Subsequent action after recording: Returned to finder
Chronology
Broad period: EARLY MEDIEVAL
Period from: EARLY MEDIEVAL
Period to: EARLY MEDIEVAL
Date from: Circa AD 575
Date to: Circa AD 625
Dimensions and weight
Quantity: 1
Thickness: 0.88 mm
Weight: 1.34 g
Diameter: 13.67 mm
Discovery dates
Date(s) of discovery: Thursday 22nd February 2018
Personal details
This information is restricted for your access level.
Other reference numbers
Other reference: EMC 2018.0074
Materials and construction
Primary material: Gold
Manufacture method: Struck or hammered
Completeness: Complete
Coin data (numismatics)
Denomination: Tremissis
Ruler/issuer: Anonymous (Tremissis)
Category: Coin of Merovingian Francia
Type: Merovingian pseudo-imperial tremissis, uncertain type
Obverse description: A slightly degraded right facing pearl diademed, draped and cuirassed bust.
Obverse inscription: BABBA (Retrograde)
Reverse description: Globe and Cross type.
Reverse inscription: SILVATACAN (starting at 6 o'clock)
Die axis measurement: 6 o'clock
Degree of wear: Hardly worn: extremely fine
Coin references
No coin references available.
Spatial metadata
Region: South East (European Region)County or Unitary authority: Kent (County)
District: Canterbury (District)
To be known as: Near Chislet
Spatial coordinates
Grid reference source: Generated from computer mapping software
Unmasked grid reference accurate to a 1 metre square.
References cited
No references cited so far.
Similar objects
Find number: IOW-C42F03
Object type: COIN
Broadperiod: EARLY MEDIEVAL
'An early-medieval gold Merovingian tremissis of the 'National Series' (Prou 1091), minted in Senlis (Oise), c.580-670. Moneyer (on coin): VR…
Workflow: Published
Find number: KENT-83515A
Object type: COIN
Broadperiod: EARLY MEDIEVAL
An early-medieval Merovingian gold tremissis, 'National'/'mint-and-moneyer' series dating c.AD 590-670, mint of Senlis, ancient Silvanectis (…
Workflow: Published
Find number: LON-A6C672
Object type: JETTON
Broadperiod: POST MEDIEVAL
Post meideval allegorical nuremberg jeton by Wolf Lauffer.
Workflow: Awaiting validation
Timeline of associated dates
About Us
About our Site
Find us
The British Museum, Great Russell Street, London WC1B 3DG.
T: +44(0) 20 73238618