Gold, 1.25 grams, 12.93 mm. Circa 7th century AD. Obverse: spiked haired, diademed flat topped bust right with legend VVICO FIT being an abbreviation for WICVS FECIT. Reverse: cross on a single step with legend DVTTA MONET for the moneyer named Dutta. The location of Wico/Wicvs is uncertain but thought to be in western France, perhaps in the Somme valley area. Reference: Jean LaFaurie Vvic in Pontio: Les Monnaies Merovingiennes de Vvicvs for discussion on this issue. Only a single similar coin in; Prou Maurice, Les Monnaies Merovingiennes 1126 [AMIENS. WICO IN PONTIO]. Superb about as struck and rare.

Amiens, the Roman Samarobriva, was the central settlement of the Ambiani, one of the principal tribes of Gaul, who were issuing coinage, probably from Amiens, in the first century BC. It is located about 120 kilometers from Paris. The Romans seized control during the Gallic Wars around 50 BC and for a time the town was used as a base by Julius Caesar. In the 4th century, a young soldier named Martin - later to become St Martin, Bishop of Tours - was stationed at Amiens (then known to the Romans as Samarobriva). It was here that Martin split his cloak with a beggar and later experienced a vision of Jesus that would lead to his legend and sainthood. Saint Honorius (Honoré) (d. 600 AD) was the seventh bishop of the city. Amiens was later the capital of Picardy.