Panel 10 - The Coinage

This panel contains detailed information on the coins, their mints and their importance in society for the tax collection system.

Panel 9 go to panel 9
Interpretation Centre floor plan Back to the main Interpretation Centre floor plan
Panel 11 go to panel 11

1.Coinage in Reccopolis

Reccopolis had a mint where, as far as is known, four Visigothic kings minted coins: Luivigild, Reccared, Suintila, and Wittiza.

The Visigothic monetary system, based on that of the Late Roman Empire, had as its primary monetary unit the gold Tremis. Given its high value, this coin has been considered the fundamental element of the tax collection system necessary for maintaining the Visigothic State. However, the discovery of coins in lesser metals, written testimonies of their frequent use, and the circulation of Late Roman coinage reflect a more structured system than previously known, in which the use of coinage in daily transactions must be evaluated for certain areas of the Visigothic kingdom.

In the foundations of the baptistery of the palatine church, a hoard of 92 Byzantine, Suevian, and Merovingian gold coins was found, along with the first Visigothic coinage of King Liuvigild, likely buried to commemorate the city’s founding.

Treasure from Reccopolis, made up of coins from the Visigothic period.
Treasure from Reccopolis, made up of coins from the Visigothic period.
Coin minted at Reccopolis of the Visigothic king Tulga.
Coin minted at Reccopolis of the Visigothic king Tulga.
Gold coin minted at Reccopolis and excavated at Merida.
Gold coin minted at Reccopolis and excavated at Merida.
Visigothic currency, known as tremís. On the left, obverse with the schematic figure of the profile of King Leovigild and the legend "Leovigild". On the right, the reverse with a schematic figure of a winged Victory and the Latin legend "Illustrious King".
Visigothic coin, known as tremís. On the left, obverse with a schematic figure of the profile of King Leovigild and the legend ‘Leovigild’. On the right, the reverse with a schematic figure of a winged Victory and the Latin legend ‘Illustrious King’.
back to the top panel