Spain Visigoths Suinthila - Gold Tremissis - Emerita - La Capilla Hoard 1891

Coin with a very nice pleasant appearance. Nice patina. Emerita mint ( Merida ). Reference : M.235a

Coin from the La Capilla Hoard. Accompanied by its original label marked “Trouvaille de La Capilla 1891.”

The La Capilla Hoard is one of the most significant Visigothic numismatic assemblages discovered in Hispania. According to research, this hoard—unearthed in 1891—is believed to have originally contained between 800 and 1,000 coins. Although the coins were dispersed shortly after their discovery, more than a third of the specimens are now housed in the collection of the Hispanic Society of America.

This hoard represents a crucial source for the study of monetary circulation during the period of Visigothic rule in Hispania. It provides valuable insight into the diversity of coinage—primarily gold tremissis—as well as the distinctive features of the mints active at the time. Later research, notably the studies by Miles (1952) and more recent academic work, has helped clarify the chronology and economic context of this period, further emphasizing the hoard’s importance in the development of Iberian numismatics.

These discoveries shed light on the economic and social history of the Iberian Peninsula during the Visigothic era, revealing how coin production and circulation were closely tied to political structures and cultural exchanges of the time.