The dataset contains cartographic and numismatic illustrations accompanying the study Transfer of Objects Only? Scandinavian Imitation Solidi. The materials address the distribution of Roman solidi in Europe and the emergence of Scandinavian imitations during the Late Roman and Early Migration Periods. By combining large-scale distribution maps with detailed images of individual imitations, the dataset provides evidence for examining the relationship between the influx of Roman gold, local copying practices, die-links, and the possible development of independent Scandinavian production.
File 1 (fig. 1) presents the distribution of solidus finds across Europe. Finds compiled by Fischer are marked in red, while additional discoveries from Ukraine, based on Gavritukhin 2005, are shown in blue. The map provides a broad geographical background for assessing the movement of Late Roman gold beyond the imperial frontiers and places Scandinavian material within the wider European pattern of solidus circulation.
File 2 (fig. 2) focuses specifically on finds of imitation solidi of Scandinavian origin. The map distinguishes between single finds, specimens recorded in hoards, and an imitation recovered from a grave. It visualises the concentration and different archaeological contexts of these objects and provides a spatial basis for discussing their production, circulation, and deposition within Scandinavia.
File 3 (fig. 3) illustrates fifteen imitation solidi of Scandinavian origin discussed in the study. The specimens reproduce, with varying degrees of accuracy, solidi of Honorius, Valentinian III, Theodosius II, Leo I, and Anastasius I. Some display hybrid combinations of obverse and reverse types, while others show evidence of copying through a hubbing process. The group also includes pieces with close die relationships, making it particularly relevant to the reconstruction of local manufacturing practices and possible workshop connections.
Together, the materials illustrate the transition from the import and circulation of Roman gold coins to their adaptation and reproduction in Scandinavia. They support the argument that Scandinavian imitation solidi should not be understood simply as imported objects or direct copies of Roman prototypes, but as products of local technological and cultural processes. The dataset therefore contributes to the study of long-distance contacts, imitation practices, die-linked production, and the transformation of Roman monetary imagery into locally manufactured objects during the Migration Period.
(2026-08-11)
