TIBERIUS II Constantine, or, Maurice Tiberius, or, Phocas ? Can you help, please?

[Topcat7]

I purchased this coin as TIBERIUS II Constantine SB 452, but I am having doubts.

I have narrowed it down to TIBERIUS II Constantine, or, Maurice Tiberius, or, Phocas.

Can anyone help me please?

 

 

 

 

 

Edited February 18 by Topcat7

[ewomack]

@Topcat7 - nice coin!

At a glance, I would say it's a Maurice Tiberius half-follis from Theoupolis/Antioch, Sear 534, year 9

This one reminds me a lot of my Maurice Tiberius decanummium, also from Theoupolis/Antioch, shown below - the legends were usually blundered on this series - the legend on your coin seems to resemble the one on mine - so perhaps they at least blundered it somewhat consistently.

To differentiate it from Sear 452, Sear only notes years 5 and 7 for 452, whereas Sear 534 includes a year 9 in the same format shown on the coin above (i.e., uIIII). By contrast, Tiberius II Constantine only ruled from 578 to 582, and Sear shows his regnal years only counting up to year 8, with 578/9 representing year 4/5, so it doesn't appear that he had a year 9 (indictions count from 12 - 15). Phocas also doesn't appear to have had a year 9 and the closest type I can find to the coin above is Sear 676, but Sear says that only year 8 is noted for that type. Plus, it looks like the legends on the Theoupolis/Antioch coins for Phocas were not blundered. So I'm pretty sure it's the Maurice half-follis. Could there be something else I don't know that would change my mind? Sure, but the year 9 on the coin heavily suggests Maurice.

Maurice Tiberius. 582-602. Æ Decanummium 17mm, 3.1g Theoupolis (Antioch) mint. Dated RY 8 (AD 589/90); Obv: blundered legend, Crowned facing bust, wearing consular robe, holding mappa and eagle-tipped scepter; Rev: Large X; cross above, R below; A/N/N/O U/III (date) across field; Sear 536

 

Edited February 19 by ewomack

[ela126]

@ewomack has done a good job explaining.

the other I believe critical point here is the crown of Maurice uses the Trefoil \|/ as seen on your coin, I believe Tiberius used a cross. That’s the easiest difference when Regnal year doesn’t clarify 

[Topcat7]

On 2/19/2024 at 11:37 AM, ewomack said:

@Topcat7 - nice coin!

At a glance, I would say it's a Maurice Tiberius half-follis from Theoupolis/Antioch, Sear 534, year 9

 

 

@ewomack    Thank you.      I believe that you are absolutely correct.   (see example below)

Edited February 22 by Topcat7

[Simon]

SBCV-534 My example. 

[Valentinian]

Here are two more:


24-22 mm. 7.05 grams. Maurice. Sear 534, Antioch year 3.


23-21 mm. 5.85 grams. Maurice. Sear 534. Antioch, year 5.

Of course, Antioch is in the east and was Greek speaking, so it is interesting to see the denomination in Roman numerals. Antioch also issued 20-nummia pieces denominated in Greek:


Maurice. 22.5-21 mm. 6.07 grams. Sear 535, year 10 (Roman numeral here!) with denomination "K" (Greek numeral here!)



Same type, but year 13. 22 mm. 5.48 grams. Sear 535.

[Valentinian]

By the way, another distinguishing feature between 
Tiberius Constantine (Tiberius II) and Maurice Tiberius (Maurice) is that Maurice usually has his crown with a "trefoil ornament" (three small prongs sticking up in the middle of the crown. See all four examples in the preceding post) whereas Tiberius II usually has a cross (+). 


Tiberius II. See the small cross on top of his crown?
21-19 mm. 3.55 grams. Sear 436. 

Edited April 4 by Valentinian