The epic Byzantine portrait thread

[sand]

Constans II was the Byzantine Emperor from 641 AD to 668 AD. By the end of Constans II's reign, the Byzantine Empire had completely lost Egypt, and much of north Africa, to the Islamic Umayyad Caliphate. However, the Byzantine Empire still held the city of Rome, and the city of Carthage. Here's a map of the Byzantine Empire, at the end of Constans II's reign.

Here's my Constans II 40 nummi bronze coin. My coin is an example of the trend, of decreasing diameter, and decreasing weight, of the Byzantine 40 nummi bronze coins. Perhaps 1 cause of this inflation, was the decreasing size of the Byzantine Empire, and the loss of the breadbasket Egypt, which perhaps caused a decrease in the wealth of the Byzantine Empire. My coin was minted early in Constans II's reign. Therefore, the portrait is beardless. My coin's portrait style is similar to @voulgaroktonou's interesting beardless Constans II silver hexagram Sear 989 in this thread, and @Hrefn's 2 interesting beardless Constans II gold solidi in this thread. Based on my observations of Byzantine 40 nummi bronze coins, my coin's portrait seems to be the 1st of a series of Byzantine 40 nummi bronze coins, spanning multiple Emperors, in which the Emperor was portrayed with a narrow triangle shaped face. Did Constans II look anything like the portrait on my coin? I don't know. I don't know, if there are any realistic, contemporary statues or paintings of Constans II. That may be a problem, for many Byzantine Emperors. I think I have read, that the Byzantines didn't place a high priority on realistic portraits, or realistic statues, because they cared more about spiritual things. According to Sear and Dumbarton Oaks, coins of my coin type are usually (Sear) or always (Dumbarton Oaks) overstruck over coins of the previous type DO Heraclonas Type 9, which corresponds to Sear Constans II Type 1103. There seems to be a debate between Sear and Dumbarton Oaks, about whether this previous type was a Heraclonas type or a Constans II type. Perhaps this debate, is related to the debate about @Hrefn's beardless Constans II (which Dumbarton Oaks says is Heraclonas) gold solidus Sear 937, which corresponds to DO Heraclonas Type 2. On my coin, one can see possible evidence of an overstrike. On my coin's reverse, there seems to be part of an outline of an Emperor's head, and the "V" of the top of his robe, under the left part of the large M. And on my coin's obverse, there seems to be a vertical bar on the right side of the Emperor's crown, and other vertical bars on other parts of the Emperor's crown, and some round shapes on the right side of the obverse. I don't know, what parts of the undertype, could have caused the undertype shapes, on the obverse of my coin.

Constans II AE 40 Nummi Follis. Minted 641 AD To 647 AD. Syracuse Mint. Sear 1104. DO 176. Maximum Diameter 23.2 mm. Weight 4.19 grams. Obverse : Constans II Bust Beardless Facing Front Holding Globe Cross, No Legend. Reverse : Large M, Monogram Above.

Here are photos of the probable undertype, Dumbarton Oaks Heraclonas Type 9, which corresponds to Sear Constans II Type 1103. Just in case, anyone wants to try to figure out, what parts of the undertype, could have caused the undertype shapes, on the obverse of my coin.

EDIT : The map in this post, is a snapshot of the nice Youtube video titled "The History of the Byzantine Empire : Every Month".

Edited July 19, 2023 by sand

[PseudoPsellos]

16 hours ago, Pellinore said:

Such an attractive coin. It looks like an overstrike, by the way. What could be the undertype?

Thanks, though the photo is on the flattering side. 🙂 Great question. My best guess was always a double (triple?) strike with remnants of a badly misaligned cross visible, though that doesn't look quite right. Perhaps it's an overstrike and we're seeing a different hexagram cross?

[robinjojo]

Constans II and Constantine IV,  solidus, 654-659, Constantinople.

S 959

4.44 grams

 

Constans II,  hexagram, 648-652, Constantinople.

MIB 144,

5.01 grams

[Severus Alexander]

Constans II’s coinage features some of the best Byzantine portraiture there is, with many stellar examples above!  The Numisforums Byzantine community may be small, but it is mighty.

My best is on one of my few solidi:

The graffiti is “ΕΛΛΑΔ” or “ΕΜΑΔ” I think. Any idea what that might mean?

The only Sicilian portrait type missing above is the very early beardless one:

With kiddies:

My best portrait in AE:

And a rather different style from the Carthage mint:

I’m looking forward to seeing some nice big folles from Constantine IV! (One of those has been on my want list for eons.)

As far as @wittwolff’s query about the Holy Roman Empire goes, yes, it won’t be happening in this thread. There was some discussion in the Roman portrait thread about continuing with the successor states in the west, in the medieval subforum. That would eventually get to the Holy Roman Empire. I’d like to see that happen, though I declined to take on thread Caesar duties. Maybe someone here would like to start the thread? Suggestion: it probably doesn’t make sense to focus on portraits, since they are few and far between for several hundred years. That said, it would be fun to see some portraits even worse than the worst Byzantine. 😁 Case in point, my Regensberg portrait of Henry IV (Holy Roman Emperor from 1084-1105):

[sand]

@Severus Alexander Nice Constans II coins. I especially like your early Sicilian beardless bronze follis, and your Carthage coin. It looks like, your early Sicilian beardless bronze follis, is the same type, as my early Sicilian beardless bronze follis in my post at the top of this page in this thread (Syracuse mint).

3 hours ago, Severus Alexander said:

The only Sicilian portrait type missing above is the very early beardless one:

Edited June 19, 2023 by sand

[voulgaroktonou]

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.

Edited June 19, 2023 by voulgaroktonou

[wittwolff]

@Severus Alexander

The portrait denarii of Charlemage had a more roman feeling to them then most byzantine coins. Also Emperor Friedrich II. made some high quality gold coinage in ancient roman style. Starting with Emperor Maximilian I. lifelike coin portraits return to the coinage of the Empire and will remain there till its end. But most of them probably look more like your example. Personally it would have interested me to see the portraiture of the HRR right next to contemporary Byzantine examples. I sadly dont have any of the HRR coin before Emperor Maximilian I. so would have nothing to post for the first months in a thread like this. Maybe someone with a bigger collection should start the thread and I will wait patiently and enjoy your coins 😉

[ValiantKnight]

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
 

 

[Nerosmyfavorite68]

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.

[voulgaroktonou]

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!

[voulgaroktonou]

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!

 

[Valentinian]

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.  

 

[Ancient Coin Hunter]

20 hours ago, voulgaroktonou said:

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.

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. 

Edit: Marc Breitsprecher has some, and a generous amount of coins of other rulers as well.

Edited June 20, 2023 by Ancient Coin Hunter

[Nerosmyfavorite68]

Ditto for me.  I could find no examples.

[voulgaroktonou]

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!

[voulgaroktonou]

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...!

[Hrefn]

I have only these two solidi of Constantine IV, both relatively early in his reign.  His brothers are portrayed on the reverses.  One has an early but not incompetent portrait reminiscent of Constans II early coinage, the other is an illustration of the decline in standards at the Constantinople mint.   A nice example of the beautifully engraved heroic busts his later solidi feature remains on my want list.  

[PseudoPsellos]

On 6/19/2023 at 3:27 PM, voulgaroktonou said:

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.

 

I love this! It looks like bring-your-child-to-work day at the imperial court. "The crown will fit when you're older, son."

Lovely bronze and gold examples, @ValiantKnight, @Nerosmyfavorite68, @Valentinian, and @Hrefn. No matter the flair of the engraver, I've always found depictions of Constantine IV to be some of the most striking.

This is the very face that got me started collecting Byzantines:

Constantine IV, with Heraclius and Tiberius. 674-681. AR Hexagram (22mm, 6.83 g). D N CON – T – NUSPP Cuirassed bust facing three-quarter right, wearing crested helmet with plume and holding spear and shield (with horse design?) / [….] AMI Cross potent set on globe on three steps between facing figures of Heraclius, left, and Tiberius, right, both wearing crown and chlamys and holding globus cruciger. DO 26, MIB 67, Sear 1172.

[sand]

It's fascinating to see, the large Constantine IV 40 nummi bronze coins, posted by @voulgaroktonou and @Valentinian. Before this thread, I don't remember ever seeing any, and I didn't know much about them. I think I remember hearing @Nerosmyfavorite68 talk about them in the past, but that's all I'd ever heard about them.

@voulgaroktonou Fascinating collection of Constatine IV gold, silver, and bronze, including the large bronzes.

@Valentinian Interesting large Constantine IV 40 nummi bronze coin.

@Hrefn Nice Constantine IV gold solidi. I like the portrait of the gold solidus on the right. It's interesting, how different the portraits are, between the left coin and the right coin.

@PseudoPsellos Nice Constantine IV silver hexagram.

@ValiantKnight Interesting Constantine IV 20 nummi bronze, with very simple portraits.

@Nerosmyfavorite68 Another interesting Constantine IV 20 nummi bronze, with very simple portraits.

Constantine IV was the Byzantine Emperor from 668 AD to 685 AD. By the end of Constantine IV's reign, the Byzantine Empire's lands had stayed almost the same, as they were at the beginning of Constantine IV's reign, with only a very small decrease. Here's a map of the Byzantine Empire, at the end of Constantine IV's reign. It's interesting, how spread out and scattered it is.

Here's my Constantine IV 40 nummi bronze coin. The portrait is an example of what I call the "narrow triangle face era" for the Byzantine 40 nummi bronze coins, which seems to have started during the reign of Constans II, and lasted at least through Tiberius III. The Emperor's eyes are depicted very simply, as 2 circles, which gives him a somewhat frightening appearance. My coin was minted during the first part of Constantine IV's reign, which may explain why he is depicted as beardless. My coin type was often overstruck over Constans II Syracuse folles and half folles. My coin was overstruck on a Constans II Syracuse 40 nummi coin Sear 1109 DO 180.

Constantine IV AE 40 Nummi Follis. Minted 668 AD To 674 AD. Syracuse Mint. Sear 1207. DO 60. Maximum Diameter 23.1 mm. Weight 3.67 grams. Obverse : Constantine IV Bust Facing Front Beardless Holding Globe Cross. Reverse : Large M, Monogram Above, Standing Figure Of Heraclius On Left, Standing Figure Of Tiberius On Right, "SCL" Mint Below. Overstruck On Constans II Syracuse Follis 654 AD To 659 AD Sear 1109 DO 180.

Here are rotated views of the obverse and reverse, to better view the undertype. On the obverse, one can see the "SCL" from the undertype reverse. On the reverse, one can see the top of the head of Constans II on the left, and the top of the head of Constantine IV on the right, from the undertype obverse. Both heads have crosses on top of their crowns, and one can see the cross that Constans II is holding to the left of Constans II's head.

EDIT : The map in this post, is a snapshot of the nice Youtube video titled "The History of the Byzantine Empire : Every Month".

Edited July 19, 2023 by sand

[robinjojo]

Starting with Constantine IV, my Byzantine collection becomes very spotty.

Here are a couple of folles.

Constantine IV, Follis, Constantinople, officina D, 668-685.

Sear 1173

16.41 grams

Constantine IV, Follis, Constantinople, officina A, 668-685.

Sear 1174

17.3 grams

[voulgaroktonou]

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.

 

Edited June 21, 2023 by voulgaroktonou

[Nerosmyfavorite68]

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.

 

 

 

Edited June 22, 2023 by Nerosmyfavorite68

[sand]

@robinjojo Very interesting large Constantine IV folles.

@voulgaroktonou Wow. What an interesting collection of Justinian II coins. And lots of interesting historical and numismatic information. It's fascinating to see a Justinian II coin from circa 690 AD, overstruck on a Roman as from no later than 300 AD. And, a very nice, large Justinian II Second Reign Follis Sear 1426. And, other interesting Justinian II gold, silver, and bronze coins. And, your fascinating Justinian II gold and silver coins with Jesus's portrait on the obverse.

@Nerosmyfavorite68 Interesting Justinian II folles from his 1st reign and 2nd reign.

Justinian II The Slit Nosed was the Byzantine Emperor from 685 AD to 695 AD, and again from 705 AD to 711 AD. At the end of Justinian II's first reign in 695 AD, when Justinian II's nose was cut off, the Byzantine Empire's territory was unchanged, compared with the end of Constantine IV's reign in 685 AD. By the end of the reigns of Leontius and subsequently Tiberius III in 705 AD, the Byzantine Empire had lost Carthage to the Islamic Umayyad Caliphate. Then, in 705 AD, in a stunning comeback, Justinian II regained the throne. By the end of Justinian II's second reign in 711 AD, the Byzantine Empire had lost the last of its North Africa territory, and some islands near Spain. Here are maps of the Byzantine Empire, at the end of Justinian II's first reign in 695 AD, at the end of Tiberius III's reign in 705 AD, and at the end of Justinian II's second reign in 711 AD.

Here's my Justinian II The Slit Nosed First Reign 40 nummi bronze coin. The portrait shows the Emperor with a short beard. The Emperor's face continues the "narrow triangle face era" of Byzantine 40 nummi bronze coins, in which the face resembles an inverted narrow triangle. My coin is an overstrike. On the reverse of my coin, one can see traces of the undertype obverse, on the lower left part of the coin. It looks like, the undertype could be the Constantine IV Syracuse Follis Sear 1211 DO 64. When the reverse is rotated (see the rotated reverse photo below), one can see the undertype Emperor's 2 eyes, and the outline of the undertype Emperor's head, crown, and hair, and the top of the undertype Emperor's chest, and the outline of the undertype Emperor's cloak/cape, and the undertype Emperor's spear, and what seems to be a cross held in the undertype Emperor's left hand, which seems to have become mixed with the overtype's monogram above the overtype's large M. On the obverse of my coin, I have not found any obvious traces of the undertype reverse.

Justinian II The Slit Nosed, First Reign : AE 40 Nummi Follis. Minted 685 AD To 695 AD. Syracuse Mint. Sear 1295. DO 54. Maximum Diameter 21.7 mm. Weight 4.09 grams. Obverse : Justinian II Bust Facing Front, With Short Beard, Wearing Crown, Cross On Top Of Crown, Holding Globus Cruciger In Right Hand. Reverse : Large M, Monogram Above, "SCL" Mint Below. Overstruck On Earlier Coin Possibly Constantine IV Syracuse Follis Sear 1211 DO 64.

Here are some photos, from Dumbarton Oaks Volume 2 Part 2, which include photos of Constantine IV Syracuse Follis DO 64, which I have outlined in red, which corresponds to Sear 1211, which is possibly the undertype of my coin.

EDIT : The map in this post, is a snapshot of the nice Youtube video titled "The History of the Byzantine Empire : Every Month".

Edited July 19, 2023 by sand

[voulgaroktonou]

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!

 

[Hrefn]

Justinian II 

The first coin is an example of Justinian II’s first portrait style and the earliest solidus of the reign.  4.45 grams, Seaby-1243, Berk-184.  The obverse is from a rusty die but the field must have been re-polished, making the coin resemble a modern frosted proof.  Same obverse die as Spink Auction 13 July 2000, the Anton Dreesmann collection, #529.   Purchased from Harlan Berk, auction 4/93, #68.  Same obverse die as CNG 477 #671 which is not as rusted but not a great strike.  That coin has a different reverse die, officina 11 (IA).  This coin is officina theta which is number 9 of the Constantinople mint.  

The second coin features a slightly older, bearded bust.  4.43 grams.  Berk-185.  Purchased from Harlan Berk, 1/1993.  This variety is frequently found clipped, in my experience.

And from his second reign:

Justinian II was the first to place the image of Christ on the coinage. These two coins feature a Semitic portrait which I suspect follows an old tradition of depiction on icons now lost.  The obverse legend on the left is DN IUSTINIANUS MULT... (probably multos annos.). Reverse is DM IHS CHS REX REGNANTIUM.  Freeman and Sear mail bid sale #5 lot 553 purchased spring 1999.

Obverse of the second coin shows Justinian II and his son Tiberius.  Complete legends on both sides.  Also from Freeman and Sear mail bid sale #3 lot 845 purchased 10 Dec 1996.

 

Believe it or not, the final coin is also a portrait of Justinian II, but struck by Romoald the Duke of Beneventum, in the days when it was still almost inconceivable that anyone but the Emperor should grace the obverse of a gold coin.  Romoald does insert his initial into the field on the left of the reverse.

Solidus of Romoald II Duke from 706-31 AD, minted in Beneventum.  It copies a solidus of Justinian II, for this collection’s example of the prototype see above.  

Obv: DN IUSTINIANUS   Cf MEC (1) #1087 which weighs 3.77 grams.  This issue has a high gold content averaging 72%.   From I. Vecchi Nummorum Auctiones 12 lot #1149 which may mean it is from the Subjack collection also. 

 

Edited June 23, 2023 by Hrefn
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