The dataset contains visual and cartographic materials related to the study of a Late Roman solidus imitation discovered in Års, northern Jutland. The materials document an exceptional artifact whose occurrence is highly unusual for western Scandinavia, as imitations of Late Roman solidi are otherwise not recorded in this region. The dataset supports the analysis of the coin’s typology, iconography, technology of manufacture, and chronological context, and situates the find within the broader phenomenon of Roman gold coin circulation and imitation in the Barbaricum.
The files include two figures and two maps that illustrate the object and its archaeological and geographical context. Files 1–2 present visual documentation of the imitation coin and its comparison with the original Late Roman solidus that served as its prototype. These illustrations highlight the principal features of the artifact, including the mirrored orientation of the design, the unusual legend, and modifications to the reverse that suggest the goldsmith drew inspiration from more than one Roman coin type. The cracked surface of the imitation is also visible, raising questions about the alloy composition and manufacturing technique used in its production.
Files 3–4 consist of maps that contextualize the Års find within the wider distribution of gold coin imitations and related gold objects in northern and central Europe. The maps illustrate the geographical distribution of Late Roman solidus imitations in the Barbaricum and Scandinavia, and compare this distribution with areas where related forms of goldworking—such as the production of Scandinavian bracteates—are known. These cartographic materials help to situate the specimen within broader patterns of cultural interaction, technological transmission, and the reception of Roman imperial iconography among Germanic communities.
Together, the materials included in this dataset provide visual and spatial documentation supporting the interpretation of the Års imitation solidus. They contribute to the study of the circulation of Roman gold coinage and its imitations in the Barbaricum, as well as to broader research on the adaptation of Roman iconography and monetary forms in northern European goldworking traditions during Late Antiquity.
(2026-03-11)
