 The obverse is similar to coins from Merovingian France , especially from the southern parts , as well as showing influences from Visigothic Spain . The reverse side , however , has no known predecessors in Merovingian or Visigothic coinage . Although by the late 6th century , Merovingian and Visigothic kings were putting their names on their coins , no surviving coins from either kingdom name a bishop . The design of the figure is derived from Byzantine imperial coins , and the cross itself is large and closely resembles an altar cross . 
