voulgaroktonou

Philippikos, 711-13

The emperor we know as Philippikos was baptized Bardanes. In 711, Justinian sent him with an expedition to punish Cherson, but once there, his army revolted and declared Bardanes emperor, he taking the new name Philippikos. More concerned with religious controversy than effectively dealing with the ever present Arab menace, on 3 June 713 he was deposed and blinded by officers of the Opsikion theme in favor of Anastasios II.

Follis, Constantinople, 711/12. 2.99 gr. 22.2 mm. 7 hr. Sear 1455; Hahn 21; DO 9a.  Overstruck on a follis of Justinian II (Sear 1428). When the reverse is turned 90 degrees to the right, one can see the portrait of Justinian as well as much of inscription of the host coin. The portrait of Justinian’s son Tiberios, however, has been obliterated by the overstriking.

Half follis, Constantinople, 711/12. 2.69 gr. 20.2 mm. 6 hr. Sear 1456; Hahn 22; DO 12. Philippikos’ portrait on his coinage is depicted crowned, wearing the loros, and holding in his right hand a globus cruciger, and in his left, an eagle tipped scepter, or Scipio.

Anastasios II, 713-15

The protasekretis (chief of the imperial chancery ) Artemios was crowned as Anastasios on 4 June 713, following the deposition of Philippikos. Luckily for the empire, in his short reign he proved a much more energetic ruler than his predecessor. Reports of large-scale Arab campaign preparations in Syria induced him to prepare Constantinople for the worst. He appointed competent thematic officers, including the future Leo III; ordered individuals in Constantinople to be able to support themselves for three years or else to leave the city; rebuilt the fleet; restored the land and sea walls; erected siege weapons; and stored grain. He also dispatched a fleet in 715 to destroy the Arabs' timber supply in Phoenicia, but the expedition broke up in Rhodes and the Opsikion troops revolted in favor of Theodosios III. After a six-month struggle, Anastasios abdicated, became a monk, and was exiled to Thessalonike.

Hexagram, Constantinople, 713-15. 2.24 gr. 20 mm. 6 hr. Sear 1468A; Hahn 27. Struck with solidus dies. By the reign of Justinian II, the increasingly rare hexagrams were being struck with dies intended for solidi. Unfortunately broken, but hard to get in any grade.

Half siliqua?, Constantinople, 713-15. 0.78 gr. 14.6 mm. 7 hr. Unlisted in Sear et al. It is perhaps better to denote the denomination as ceremonial silver. Another example appeared in NAC 23, 19 March 2002, lot 1740. The cataloger there wrote “We have attributed this very interesting coin to the reign of Anastasius II, but it might as well belong to the reign of Leo III.” Although the portrait does seem to place this piece in the first quarter of the 8^th century, Hahn records a ceremonial piece with similar reverse for Constantine IV (Hahn 69). Per private communication with Simon Bendall, C. Morrison acquired 2 specimens, one for the Bibliotheque Nationale (Sternberg 31, 1988, lot 579 = Leu 36, May 1985, lot 392. 0.63 gr.), and for DO, the NAC example noted above. For a discussion of this coin, see C. Morrisson, “Imperial generosity and its monetary expression: the rise and decline of the largesses”, in Donation et Donateurs dans le Monde Byzantin, pp. 25 - 43, esp. p. 40.

Follis, Constantinople, 713-14. 3.75 gr. 23.9 mm. 6 hr. Sear 1469; Hahn 28; DO 7a

Silver Half Siliqua, Rome, 713-715. 0.21 gr. 8.4 mm. 6 hr. Sear 1482A (this coin); Hahn et al. unlisted. O’Hara, “A find of Byzantine silver from the mint of Rome for the period A. D. 641-752”, (Revue Suisse de Numismatique, v. 64 (1985), pp. 105-40, #26 (this coin). The reverse features a monogram for ROMA.

Theodosios III, 715–17

Theodosios, a tax collector, was acclaimed emperor by troops revolting against Anastasios II. Reluctantly accompanying the rebels, he entered Constantinople in late fall 715. Little is known of his reign. In 716 he concluded a treaty with the Bulgar khan Tervel, probably anticipating the impending Arab attack on Constantinople. When Maslama invaded Byzantine territory that same year, the thematic generals Artavasdos and Leo III deposed Theodosios. He abdicated on 25 March and both he and his son became monks.

Hexagram, Constantinople, 715-717. 2.27 gr. 19 mm. 4 hr. Sear 1491; Hahn 12.

Follis, Syracuse, 716-17. 9.18 gr. 34.2 mm. 7 hr. Sear 1496; Hahn 16. Although the obverse is anepigraphic, the coin is signed in the emperor’s name on the reverse by his monogram above the mark of value: Θεοδοσίου.

9 hours ago, sand said:

Thanks @voulgaroktonou. It looks like you and Dumbarton Oaks are correct, and ERIC II is incorrect. Isaac I, the Byzantine Emperor from 1057 AD to 1059 AD, indeed had coin portraits which showed the Emperor wearing the implements of war. I wonder, if Isaac I was the only Byzantine Emperor after Tiberius III, whose coin portraits showed the Emperor wearing the implements of war. I also wonder, why the Byzantines started to look unfavorably upon coin portraits, in which the Emperor was wearing the implements of war.

P.S. : I also corrected my above post, in which I had said "RIC II". I meant to say "ERIC II". Thanks to @Valentinian for pointing out that error.

Dear @sand, The reason Isaac's "warlike" image didn't go over well with contemporaries is that because to them, it suggested that the emperor was attributing military success to his own prowess, and not to "The Lord of hosts". Cf. Psalm 33: 16-17, and 20:

6 hours ago, Severus Alexander said:

I guess @Valentinian is right and I should have included both Leontius and Tiberius III in the same time slot... I will be posting them together. 🙂 Three coins of Leontius and three of Tiberius, for a total of five. Ah... you think my math is faulty?

I have both a full follis and a half for Leontius, with the better portrait probably being on the half:

The full is one-eyed:

Neither portrait is much to write home about.

My third Leontius is also a Tiberius III, and indeed my favourite portrait of the latter.  It's an overstrike, of course: SB 1366 over top of SB 1334. (Thus my weird math.) The loros of Leontius is clearly visible on the reverse:

My next Tib III, a year 1, is a bit rough, but I like the portrait's style:

Finally, I have one of the standing types that we also saw from quant.geek and voulgaroktonou:

I believe these are pretty scarce. It might be my nicest Tiberius III coin; his military dress is particularly clear.

Great to see you join the thread, @quant.geek!  You have some stellar examples, as usual. Between you and @voulgaroktonou our gallery of AE will be fabulous!

Voulgaroktonou, I love that overstrike on the Maximianus.  I happen to have an overstrike from the same time period and similar vicinity... a generic Syrian Umayyad fals (Album 153) over a Licinius AE3 from Ticinum. The Licinius portrait and Sol undertype are pretty obvious in this image with the reverse rotated:

As you can see, there are bits of the Roman legend visible too. There's enough of the coin underneath that I was able to pin it down: RIC VII 4 (Ticinum).

So I did post 6 coins after all. 😄 

@severus alexander, I LOVE your example of SB 1366 over top of SB 1334. 2 for the price of one. What's not to love about that! Everyone has provided so many wonderful examples in this great topic - thank you, all, for sharing!

2 hours ago, sand said:

@Hrefn Beautiful Justinian II gold coins. I particularly like your gold coins with Jesus's portrait on 1 side. And, your gold coin from the Lombard Duchy Of Benevento in the Italian peninsula is very interesting. It's interesting that, even though the Byzantine Empire no longer ruled that part of the Italian peninsula, the Duchy Of Benevento minted gold coins in the style of the Byzantine Empire, with the Byzantine Emperor's portrait on the obverse.

@Severus Alexander Interesting Constantine IV coins.

@voulgaroktonou Very nice and interesting Leontius bronze coins. Leontius bronze coins seem to be very hard to find, as we can tell, by how few NF members posted them. And, nice and interesting Tiberius III coins. And, good historical information about Leontius and Tiberius III.

@Valentinian Interesting, hard to find, Leontius bronze coin. Also, interesting Tiberius III bronze coins.

@Nerosmyfavorite68 Interesting Tiberius III coins. And, good historical information about Tiberius III. The maps in this thread, are screen shots of a Youtube video titled "The History of the Byzantine Empire : Every Month". It's an excellent video.

@quant.geek Nice and interesting Tiberius III coins.

Here's my Tiberius III 40 nummi bronze coin. Tiberius III's 40 nummi bronze coin portraits are the last of the "narrow triangle face" era, although some subsequent Emperors had some throwbacks to that era (I'm looking at you, Constantine VII). Leontius's 40 nummi bronze coin portraits are a notable exception in that era, having a rectangular or oval shaped face. On my coin, Tiberius III appears to be beardless, but I'm not certain of that. Perhaps he has a short beard. His eyes are simple dots. The face has some 3 dimensionality, in that, the cheekbones and chin are higher relief than the rest of the face. His face has no expression. RIC II says of the Tiberius III coin portraits "it will be the last time in Byzantine history that the effigy of the emperor will be shown wearing the implements of war". My coin is an overstrike. The reverse has some traces of the undertype, in the lower left part of the coin, which seem to show parts of "SCL" diagonally.

Tiberius III AE 40 Nummi Follis. Minted 698 AD To 705 AD. Syracuse Mint. Sear 1395. DO 32. Maximum Diameter 22.2 mm. Weight 3.20 grams. Obverse : Tiberius III Bust Facing Front, Wearing A Crown Which Has A Cross On Top, Holding Spear In Front Of Body, Shield In Left Hand. Reverse : Large M, Monogram Above, Palm On Left, Palm On Right,  "SCL" Mint Below. Overstruck On Earlier Coin.

Dear @sand, "RIC II says of the Tiberius III coin portraits "it will be the last time in Byzantine history that the effigy of the emperor will be shown wearing the implements of war". ", it's true that Tiberius' military visage is exceptional for numismatic imperial iconography, but we will see it again under Isaac I Comnenus, when the emperor is shown holding a sword and wearing military attire. Grierson notes in DOC 3:2, p. 759 that his gold coinage was for that reason unpopular with contemporaries for its "ostentatiously military character". 

In 698, Leontios dispatched a fleet to relieve Carthage, which was being threatened by the Arabs. The expedition was a failure, and Carthage and the Exarchate of Africa passed permanently  out of Roman control. Rather than return to Constantinople to report their failure, the leaders of the fleet elected one of their number, a vice admiral of probable Germanic origin named Apsimar as emperor. Hastily assuming the more Roman name of Tiberios (III), the new emperor sailed to Constantinople and overthrew Leontios. During his reign, 698–705, the new emperor strengthened the empire militarily. However, in 705, the exiled Justinian secretly entered the City, reassumed power, and overthrew Tiberios. The new emperor executed Tiberios and Leontios, who had been imprisoned when Tiberios had rebelled against him.

Solidus, Constantinople, 698-705 4.32 gr. 19.5 mm. 6 hr. Sear 1360; Hahn 1; BM 6; T. 6. When Tiberius’ portrait appears on his coinage (as opposed to his standing figure, as on my third coin below) he wears a cuirass, and carries a spear and shield, hearkening back to the military imagery of Constantine IV.

Follis, Constantinople, 698/9. 7.51 gr. 29.7 mm. 7 hr. Sear 1366; Hahn 73; DO 8c. Overstruck on a follis of Leontios, which in turn had been overstruck on an earlier coin. Visible on the obverse on the left are ANNO and below, CON of the Leontios reverse, and on the reverse, the loros and globus cruciger of Leontios can be seen to the left of the mark of value, and above it, the remains of ANNO of the original coin.

Half follis, Constantinople, 701/2. 3.34 gr. 26.4 mm. 1 hr. Sear 1369; Hahn 76. Standing figure of emperor, holding globus cruciger and spear. Overstruck on a half follis of Leontios, whose loros and globus cruciger are visible on the reverse.

Follis, Syracuse, 698-705. 3.40 gr. 20.4 mm. 6 hr. Sear 1395; Hahn 79b; DO 32. The obverse is anepigraphic, but a monogram above the mark of value spells out his name: ΤΙΒεΡΙΟΥ.

From the style of the drapery, it is likely Heraclius, from Nicomedia, an example of Sear 833. Year 2, offiicna B. What's visible of the legend would bear that out.

Leontios, 695–98, had a military career going back to Constantine IV. Although he campaigned effectively against the Arabs in 686, in 692 Justinian imprisoned him, perhaps for subsequent failures in Asia Minor. He was released in 695 and created strategos (military governor) of Hellas but in that same year, he revolted and deposed Justinian. The Byzantine sources call him Leontios but his coinage as well as western sources indicate that he ruled officially as Leo. In 698, he  was overthrown by Tiberios III, who gave HIM a nose job and imprisoned him in the Dalmatou monastery.

Follis, Constantinople, 695/6. 7.65 gr. 28.1 mm. 6 hr. Sear 1334; Hahn 32. Ex Protonotarios Collection.

Half Follis, Constantinople, 695/6. 5.27 gr. 23.1 mm. 12 hr. Sear 1335; Hahn 33. The obverse is anepigraphic but his characteristic broad, bearded face reveals his identity.

Half Follis, Constantinople, 695/6. 3.39 gr. 22.2 mm. 1 hr. Sear 1335; Hahn 33. Overstruck on a radiate fraction of Maximianus. Of the host coin details remain of the obverse legend…MAXIMIANVS PF AVG, plus the back of the portrait with the radiate crown and wreath ties. On the reverse are visible details of the laurel wreath.

Three similar overstruck bronzes of Leontius were published for the first time In Spink’s Numismatic Circular, Jan. 1971, p. 7; the undertypes of these coins were all Tetrarchic radiate fractions with vota wreaths on the reverse as this coin, one of Maximianus and two of Constantius I as Caesar. The author conjectures that a hoard of radiate fractions may have been discovered early in Leontius’ reign and “used as ready - made flans for this issue.”  

1 hour ago, voulgaroktonou said:

A beautiful lightweight!

A friend suggested I edit my compliment, so as to not mislead anyone into thinking I meant by the word "lightweight" something negative! So that nihil obstat, I rephrase it as: "That coin with the *+* in exergue is a beautiful lightweight solidus" !

46 minutes ago, Hrefn said:

Al, it is easier to build a collection when you are patient and buy over a period of years.  I know from your postings that you also are very selective also, and take the long view.  

If I were advising a new collector, my first admonition would be to collect for the fun of it.  Find an area you enjoy, perhaps where the history of the era draws you in or the artistry of the coins speaks to you.  Concentrate most of your purchases in that area, and buy the best coins you can afford.  For many years I would attend the Bay State coin show and purchase the best Byzantine gold solidus I could buy.  Usually I would acquire only one.  

When I participate in an auction, it is rare that I win more than one coin.  

That said, numismatics is a hobby.  For those of us who are amateurs, being overly disciplined in one’s purchases would take some of the fun out of it.  It is not as if we need behave like authorized agents for some University’s Coin Room.  So coins which pique your interest which lie outside of the focus of the collection are perfectly allowable.  Witness the Celtic stater which is my avatar;  I traded some coins which were peripheral to my collection for it.  But a reasonable degree of focus, I believe, builds both a better collection and a more knowledgeable collector. 

TL:DR  Collect for fun.  Concentrate your purchases, but don’t be a fanatic about it.  Buy the best practicable for your core collection.  Be patient.  And Buy the Books!

Last, a random image to redeem this overly long comment (not Justinian II)

 

A beautiful lightweight!

12 hours ago, Nerosmyfavorite68 said:

And now for Justinian II, one of my favorite emperors to collect;  While a large-module follis of Constantine IV has eluded me (there isn't even one on either ma-shops or vcions, at any price), another bucket list coin, Justinian II Constantinople with a round flan has not.

Justinian II 1st Reign Bronze Follis, Sear-1260, Year-2, Officina-A, struck 686-687 at Constantinople, 8.07 grams, 26.6 mm. aVF

Obv: IUSJINIANUS P - Bust of Justinian facing, with short beard, wearing crown and chlamys, and holding globus cruciger, a cross in the right field

Rev: Large 'M' between ANNO and numerals representing the regnal year, with cross above and officina letter below, CON in exergue

A larger than normal flan, which is the result of overstriking of an earlier issue with choice brown patina and nice central devices. Rare.

Ex: Dr. Michael Metlich Collection

Ex Glenn W. Woods.

 

 

And a second reign piece from my favorite mint, Ravenna:

Justinian II; Second Reign, 705-711 AD. Ravenna, Year 21=705/6 AD, Follis, 2.84g. Berk-817, MIB-54, DO-23, Sear-1445. Obv: Legend mostly off flan, Facing bust of emperor with short beard, wearing crown and loros, and holding [cross potent] (off flan) and cross on globe. Rx: Large M between A/N/N/O and X/X/[I], cross above, RAV in exergue. Unusual type for second reign showing emperor holding loros.

ex: HJB and HJB description.

I also have a 10 or 20 nummi which I fished out of an HJB junkbox, many years ago.

I don't have any coins of Leontius, yet.   🫤

One really should listen to either (or both) podcasts regarding Justinian II from The HIstory of Byzantium and Totalus Rankium, respectively.

Perhaps this Ravenna coin bore witness to the Ravenna second reign 'picnic' recounted by Totalus Rankium.  Stabby, stabby. The post office almost went breaky breaky with this one.  I learned that priority mail is a total no no for coins.

The 2nd reign Ravenna issues seem to be a lot less common, if acsearch is any indication, turning up about 1/10th as many as first reign ones.

 

 

 

Wow! Very nice!

Justinian II, first reign, 685–95 and second reign 705–11.

One of the few Byzantine rulers to successfully regain the throne after being deposed, Justinian, son of Constantine IV, came to the throne on his father’s death in 685. He proved an energetic ruler during his first reign  from 685-95. He sent successful expeditions against the Arabs, forcing ʿAbd al-Malik to make peace in 688. His offensives in the west against the Slavs returned parts of Greece and Macedonia to Roman rule, organizing new Themes (administrative districts) in the west; he also embarked upon ambitious plans to repopulate newly rewon territories by large scale population transfers.

However, the unpopularity of his severe taxation and the cruelty and excesses of his financial administrator Stephen the Persian caused Leontios, the strategos of Hellas, to overthrow him, cut off his nose, and exile him to Cherson in 695. Stuck in this outpost, Justinian tested various nasal prosthetics, dripped (until he got the right one), fumed, and bided his time, marrying the sister of the Bulgar kahn, Tervel, and cultivating his new in-law against his eventual return to power. Meanwhile, the usurper Leontios was in turn overthrown in 698 by Tiberios III Apsimar, who mutilated his nose and imprisoned him in the Dalmatou monastery. In 705, aided by Tervel, Justinian regained the throne and executed Tiberios and Leontios .

Upon regaining the throne, Justinian immediately made his infant son Tiberios co-emperor. Unfortunately, he channeled his not inconsiderable energies into punishing real and imagined enemies.  In 711 he sent an expedition against Cherson, but the fleet revolted and proclaimed as emperor Philippikos. Justinian fled Constantinople for Asia Minor, where he was killed by the rebels. So ended the great Heraclian dynasty.

First reign, 685–95. Constantinople is the mint of the first three coins; Syracuse, that of the fourth.

AR Ceremonial Miliaresion, 687-92. 4.19 gr. 22.9 mm. 6 hr. Sear 1257; Hahn 37; DO (15) = T. 73; BNP 1. This, my most recent acquisition, came as a surprise. I thought I was acquiring a hexagram in rather indifferent condition, with the usual reverse inscription δЄЧS AδIЧTA ROMANIS somehow eradicated. When in hand, however, it revealed that instead of a missing inscription, the cross potent on base over globe on 3 steps is flanked to left and right by very lightly struck palm branches, whose bases can be made out and whose general shapes are visible. Hahn secured the identification; on the reverse of the regular hexagram, the cross rests upon three steps, but on the ceremonial piece, the cross sits upon a globe over three steps, as here. Not a beauty, but so few of the ceremonial miliaresia are.

Semissis, 687-92. 2.17 gr. 20.1 mm. 6 hr. Sear 1251; Hahn 11; BM 19; R. 1688.

Follis, 686-7. 7.08 gr.26.5 mm. 7 hr. Sear 1260; Hahn 44; DO 18b; R. 1693

Follis, Syracuse, 687-89. 9.52 gr. 29.4 mm. 12 hr. Sear 1298; Hahn 66; DO 58; BM 48. Overstruck on a Roman as. [C]AESAR of the original coin is visible on the obverse to left of the standing Justinian. Clearer in hand than in photo.

Second reign, 705–11. Mint of all is Constantinople.

Follis, 705. 8.08 gr. 30.2 mm. 6 hr. Sear 1426; Hahn 42a; DO 11a. Dated year 20, Justinian not considering his 10 years in exile as breaking the continuity of his reign from 685.

Follis, 705/6. 4.18 gr. 22.6 mm. 6 hr. Sear 1428; Hahn 43, 2 (this coin); DO 12a; T. 13. Ex Protonotarios collection. On this and the following half follis, the young Tiberios is featured with his father, on the viewer’s right. They hold a patriarchal cross on a globe inscribed PAX.

Half Follis 705/6. 2.10 gr. 18.4 mm 6 hr. Sear 1431; Hahn 45 ; DO (15a) = BM 10. Obverse as previous coin.  

A major numismatic innovation of Justinian’s reign was the introduction of a portrait of Christ as the major type on the obverse of the coin, with the corresponding figure of the emperor being moved to the reverse. This innovation affected the gold and silver only; the imperial portrait continued to grace the obverse of the bronze coinage. Although a standing figure of Christ had appeared on the reverses of several rare 5^th c. solidi commemorating imperial marriages, this novel iconography (though abandoned by his immediate successors as well as by the subsequent rulers of the Iconoclastic period) was reinstated under Michael III in 843. Thereafter, to the fall of the empire, the obverse was given to Christ or another religious figure, with the emperor permanently relegated to the reverse.

This is not the place to delve into the possible reasons for this unprecedented innovation, but those wishing to explore the subject in depth should consult James Douglas Breckenridge’s 1959 monograph, The numismatic iconography of Justinian II (685-695, 705-711 A.D.) New York, American Numismatic Society, Numismatic notes and monographs, no. 144.

The Christ portrait of the first  reign,  the familiar image of a long haired and bearded Christ Pantokrator, hearkens back to Phidias’ colossal representation of Zeus at Olympia, as well as to the image of Christ in the Great Palace of Constantinople.

The coinage of the second reign featured an image of Christ with short, curly hair and beard and is associated by art historians as Syrian. It is thought to be an attempt to represent the Savior in a more human-like manner, without the classical associations of the majestic Pantokrator image of the first reign.

The mint of all three coins below is Constantinople. The first two coins date from the first reign; the third one belongs to the second reign, and illustrates the stylistic differences between the two issues.

Semissis, 692-95. 2.07 gr. 17.0 mm. 7 hr.  Sear 1252; Hahn 12; DO 10; BNP 10.

Hexagram, 692-95. 6.43 gr. 24.5 mm. 6 hr.  Sear 1259; Hahn 40; DO 17; BNP 2; BM 26-27. Struck with solidus dies.

AR “Hexagram”, or ceremonial silver, 705.  3.43 gr. 22.2 mm. 7 hr. Sear 1423; Hahn 39; DOC [8] = BM (first reign) 28 = T. 76. Sadly, holed, (like the semissis above) but so is the BM specimen, which is the only one cited by Hahn in MIB III. Struck with solidus dies.

1 hour ago, Ancient Coin Hunter said:

Your coins of Constantine IV made me search wildly for some examples either for sale at fixed price or at auction. I would say at this point they are difficult to find especially in good quality. In fact I could find only one or two available in a poor state. 

Thank you for your generous words. While my wife enjoys my Greek and earlier Roman coins, she tolerates my Byzantines - out of love for me, not for the coins themselves...!

12 hours ago, Valentinian said:

Here is one of the large pieces:



37.5 - 36.3 mm.
Constantine IV
Sear 1173. DOC II.2 Constantine IV 77.

Not many of these are well-struck. For that matter, not many of his other types are well struck, either. The coins of @vougaroktonou are amazingly nice.  

 

Friend, @Valentinian, thanks for your kind words. This is a beautful (as they go) follis!

20 minutes ago, ValiantKnight said:

Constantine IV, Byzantine Empire
AE half-follis
Obv: Crowned bust facing, holding spear
Rev: Crowned facing busts of Heraclius and Tiberius, X/X between, cross above, mintmark ROM in exergue
Mint: Rome
Ref: SB 1234
Date minted: 668-681 AD
 

 

I love the Rome mint examples. Thanks for sharing!

8 minutes ago, Nerosmyfavorite68 said:

Constantine IV (668-685). Æ 20 Nummi (14mm, 1.58g, 6h). Rome. Crude crowned facing bust, holding spear. R/ Crowned facing busts of Heraclius and Tiberius; small X/X between, cross above, ROM. MIB 115; DOC 83; Sear 1234.

My only coin of Constantine IV.  I almost had a bucket list coin, a large follis of Constantine IV.  However, it was lucky that the dealer couldn't find the coin.  The post office tried their hardest to destroy the package.  The coin would have been broken. The tiny Justinian II only survived because it was so small.

I love these Rome issues! Thanks for sharing!

Constantine IV, son of Constans II, was proclaimed co-emperor by his father in April 654, and ruled jointly with him until the latter’s death in 668. Constantine continued the association of his younger brothers Herakleios and Tiberios on the coinage until 681, when he deposed them, probably because of a conspiracy. The young emperor faced external pressures throughout his reign, with the capital itself besieged by the Arabs in 674–78, but their defeat brought about a 30-year truce on terms favorable to the Romans.   

On this hexagram of his father Constans II, Constantine IV appears as a child to the viewer’s right of his father. Constantinople, 654-659. 5.09 gr. 23.9 mm. 4 hr. Sear 996; Hahn 150; DO 55; BNP 14-17; BM 87; R. 1600.

The mint of all coins that follow, save for the last two, is Constantinople.

Ceremonial Miliaresion, 668. Broken. 2.88 gr. 20.8 mm. 7 hr. Unpublished. Beardless bust wearing chlamys and crown with cross on circlet. He holds in right hand a globus cruciger. This civilian bust corresponds to Class I of the solidus and hexagram. But the only recorded ceremonial issues of Constantine IV have a helmeted and military bust with a spear and shield, corresponding to the later classes of his solidi and hexagrams. Grierson, in DOC v. 2:2, p. 515, notes that the extreme rarity of the corresponding solidus of Class I suggests a very short issue of only a few months.

Ceremonial Miliaresion, 674-85.  4.42 gr. 21.3 mm. 6 hr. Sear 1165; Hahn 61; DO 20. This military portrait, holding spear and shield, introduced in 668, becomes standard for the reign.  

Hexagram, 668-673. 6.03 gr. 21.7 mm. 6 hr. Sear 1168; Hahn 63c; DO 23; BNP 2-6; BM 23-24;m R, 1654-55. Beardless military bust, holding spear and shield; Constantine’s brothers Heraclius and Tiberius flank a cross on globe and steps. Ex Hunt collection, Sotheby’s Dec. 5-6, 1990, lot 419.

Hexagram, 674-681. 5.03 gr. 19 mm. 6 hr. Sear 1170; Hahn 67; DO 25; BNP 7-8; BM 25. All as before, but bearded bust.

Although the initial portraiture on Constantine’s silver and gold issues is relatively crude, in 681 the work of an engraver of talent becomes evident; although the obverse legends continue to leave room for improvement, a fine style of portraiture emerges, which continues into the early years of his son Justinian II’s reign. The contrast between the 2 previous coins and those below is remarkable.

Solidus, 681-85. 4.31 gr. 19 mm. 6 hr. Sear 1157; Hahn 10; BNP 13-14. Ex Hunt collection, Sotheby’s June 21, 1991, lot 58. The emperor’s brothers Heraclius and Tiberius disappear from the coinage after being deposed in 681.

Hexagram, 674-681. 6.54 gr. 24.9 mm. 7 hr. Sear 1170; Hahn 67; DO 25; BNP 7-8; BM 25. Although my photo is not the best, the shield device of the horseman is beautifully rendered.

Under the reign of his father, Constans II, the bronze coinage of the capital had decayed into one of the most wretched currencies ever inflicted upon a people. Constantine attempted to restore the bronze coinage to what it had been under Justinian. If the results are not always beautiful and well struck examples, Constantine was able to maintain this heavy standard through his reign; but under the reigns of his son Justinian II in 685 and his successors, sadly, a return to the shrunken, cut down follis of Constans becomes the norm.

Follis, 668-73. 17.04 gr. 40.7 mm . 7 hr. Sear 1173 (this coin); Hahn 77 DO 28e. As noted above, this initial issue features a beardless bust, holding a globus cruciger.

Follis, 674-81. 17.00 gr. 37.7 mm. 7 hr. Sear 1176 (this coin); Hahn 80 (this coin); BNP 7. Ex Ian Roper, H. Berk collections.

Follis, 683-84. 16.65 gr. 35.00 mm. 6 hr. Sear 1177; Hahn 81; DO 32b. Ex H. Berk collection. On this class, the deposed Heraclius and Tiberius have been replaced by the traditional, ANNO and date flanking the mark of value. The XXX may refer to the emperor’s Tricennalia.

Pentanummium, 668-73. 2.80 gr. 21.3 mm. 7 hr. Sear 1184; Hahn 95; DO 40. Although the obverse is anepigraphic, it bears the same military bust (here beardless) as the previous two coins.

These last 2 coins are from Carthage. Not shown to scale.

Solidus, 674-5. 4.29 gr. 12.2 mm. 6 hr. Sear 1187A; Hahn 18; DO 42.1-2; T. 50. On the obverse, a blundered inscription accompanies a bearded bust of Constantine holding a globus cruciger, while his brothers flank a long cross on steps.

Follis, 674-81. 10.16 gr. 29.6 mm. 7 hr. Sear 1196; Hahn 98; DO 52; BNP 4-6; BM 58-60; T. 74-76; R. 1659. The reverse features Heraclius and Tiberius on either side of a cursive M.

Before leaving Constans, just for fun, a few where he looks a little too caffinated...

Here, he has a really bad headache...

13 hours ago, PseudoPsellos said:

Keeping the beards flowing...

Constans II, with Constantine IV. 641-668. AR Ceremonial Miliaresion (18mm, 4.05 g, 6h). Constantinople. Struck 659-668. Facing busts of Constans, with plumed helmet and long beard, and Constantine, beardless, draped, and crowned; cross above / Cross potent set on globe on three steps; palm fronds flanking. DOC 47, MIB 141, Sear 987.

Constantine IV is nearly the size of his father here. Compare it to this hexagram with a much younger figure.

Constans II,  son of Heraclius Constantine and grandson of Heraclius, reigned 641–68. He is labelled by his official name “Constantine” on his coins, but he was popularly known as Constans. His time on the throne was troubled by external threats from Muslims in the East to Slavs in the West. Anxiety over these induced him to consider moving the seat of government from Constantinople to the West, settling ca. 660 in Sicily, where he remained until he was killed in 668 while bathing, reportedly struck in the head by a servant wielding a soap dish.

Constans’ coinage is one of the few examples in the Byzantine series illustrating the development of the emperor’s portrait. His earliest issues show a beardless face, followed by a rare transitional issue showing the suggestion of facial hair indicated by dots, to a fulsome beard, and finally to a rampant growth reminiscent of certain members of ZZ Top, or, of the present writer in his late 20s…

Top row: (Mint of all is Constantinople)

Hexagram, 642-47. 6.78 gr. 26.9 mm. 6 hr.   S989; H. 142; DO 48; BNP 1; BM 79; R. 1540. This early issue depicts a beardless Constans.

Hexagram, 647-48 6.43 gr. 25 mm  7 hr    S990; H. 143; DO 49. This transitional class features the beginnings of a beard indicated by a row of dots.

Hexagram, 647-51 6.48 gr. 27.1 mm 6 hr   S991; H. 144; DO 50; BNP 2-8; BM 80-84; R. 1541-42. The emperor’s face here is fuller and is fully bearded.

Bottom row: (Mint of all is Constantinople)

Ceremonial Miliaresion, 659-68   4.21  gr.  20.6 mm 6 hr   S 987; H  141; BM 89; T. 269. Constans, now with a beard that “flows nearly down to the ground” (to quote Pete Townshend’s song “Amazing Journey”) is here accompanied by his son and successor Constantine IV. Comparison with the obverse of the next coin shows that solidus dies were employed for these ceremonial issues.

Solidus, 661-663  4.39 gr. 19.1 mm 5 hr   S 964; H31; DO30g; BNP 60-61; BM 58; R1606. Constans, again with Constantine IV.  On the reverse, Constans’ other sons Heraclius and Tiberius flank the cross on steps.

While reading Byzantine history and numismatics in graduate school in the 1970s, I became convinced for a time that I was Pogonatus himself, as the final image shows. I became a nuisance to my family, friends, and strangers on the bus, by “forbidding discussion of Christ's wills and energies and by commanding acceptance of Scripture and the doctrinal definitions of the five ecumenical councils.” And I had an unreasoning fear of bathing in general and soap dishes in particular. Oh, the follies of youth! 😊

Beautiful! Thanks for sharing!

Before I can do that, Al, I'll have to ask DO for permission. They were part of a private collection I curated for 30 years, but now belong to DO; I'll get back with you after I have gotten their permission.

1 hour ago, Al Kowsky said:

I'd love to see photos of your lead seal & revolt solidus 😉. The last revolt solidus I saw at auction was lot 723, from CNG 123, from the Carthage mint, & it sold for $14,700 😲! I managed to score my Heraclius solidus, Sear 732, at that same auction ☺️. The Carthage revolt solidus is pictured below.  

3 minutes ago, Al Kowsky said:

This is a very rare coin type 🤩, gold solidi depicting father & son are untouchable at auction.

Thanks to a private collection I curated for many years, DO now has another splendid solidus of the revolt, plus a lead seal of the exarch and his son that has to be seen to be believed.

Heraclius, Heraclius Constantine, Heraclonas, and Martina. From left to right, and bottom.

Hexagram, Constantinople, 637-41.  6.58 gr. 23 mm. 6 hr. S. 803; Hahn 146; DO 68; BNP 16; BM 108; R. 1500. Heraclonas, Heraclius, and Heraclius Constantine.

Ceremonial Miliaresion, Constantinople 637-41.  3.78 gr. 21.2 mm. 6 hr. Sear 791; Hahn 131; BNP 1. Obverse same as previous.

Half siliqua, Carthage, 617-41. 0.52 gr. 11.6 mm. 1 hr. Sear 871; Hahn 149; DO 233; BNP 3-4; BM 343-6; R. 1460-64. A beardless Heraclius on the obverse; reverse, Heraclius Constantine and Martina.

Heraclius and Heraclius Constantine. From left to right, and bottom.

Heraclius is on the left, his son, on the right.

Ceremonial Miliaresion, Constantinople, 615-24. 4.34 gr. 25.2 mm. 7 hr. Sear 789; Hahn 129; T. 223-4.

Hexagram, Constantinople, 636-637. 4.58 gr. 24.3 mm. 7 hr.

Hexagram, Ravenna, 615-638, 6.04 gr. 25.1 mm. 6 hr.  Sear 903; Hahn 153; DO 277; BNP 1-3; BM 440-41; T. 221-2. Although no mint mark is present, Ravenna presents itself by style (Here, Heraclius resembles a cuddly teddy bear; his son seems to have walked off the set of the “Walking Dead”.) Further, the Ravennate hexagrams use Roman forms of the letters D, V, and T, compared to the Greek: δ, υ, τ.