Heritage World Coin Auctions
CICF Signature Sale 3040 9-10 April 2015
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Tiberius III Apsimar (AD 698-705). AV solidus (20mm, 4.42 gm, 6h). Constantinople, 3rd officina. D TIBЄRI-ЧS PЄ AV, crowned and cuirassed bust of Tiberius facing, holding spear in right hand and shield with horseman motif on left shoulder / VICTORIA AVςЧ, cross potent set on three steps; Γ//CONOB. Sear 1360. DOC 1c. MIB 1. Reverse hairlines, otherwise crisply struck and brilliant. NGC MS 5/5 - 4/5.Admiral of a Byzantine fleet sent to relieve Carthage, Apsimar turned back after the Arabs sized the city and undertook to overthrow the feeble Emperor Leontius. He succeeded to the throne as Tiberius III and set about trying to recover the initiative against the advancing Arabs. He scored some minor successes against them in Asia Minor, but Carthage was lost forever, a terrific blow that undermined his claim to military prowess. Rightfully suspicious of the deposed Justinian II, who had taken refuge with the Khazars, he tried to have his rival extradited and executed. But Justinian eluded capture and returned to Constantinople at the head of a polyglot army in AD 705. Caught unprepared, Tiberius tried to flee, but was captured and executed. The scarce coinage of Tiberius shows him as a military man, armed with spear and shield, a motif that had not been seen in decades.
Estimate: 1500-2000 USD
Tiberius III Apsimar (AD 698-705). AV solidus (20mm, 4.42 gm, 6h). Constantinople, 3rd officina. D TIBЄRI-ЧS PЄ AV, crowned and cuirassed bust of Tiberius facing, holding spear in right hand and shield with horseman motif on left shoulder / VICTORIA AVςЧ, cross potent set on three steps; Γ//CONOB. Sear 1360. DOC 1c. MIB 1. Reverse hairlines, otherwise crisply struck and brilliant. NGC MS 5/5 - 4/5.Admiral of a Byzantine fleet sent to relieve Carthage, Apsimar turned back after the Arabs sized the city and undertook to overthrow the feeble Emperor Leontius. He succeeded to the throne as Tiberius III and set about trying to recover the initiative against the advancing Arabs. He scored some minor successes against them in Asia Minor, but Carthage was lost forever, a terrific blow that undermined his claim to military prowess. Rightfully suspicious of the deposed Justinian II, who had taken refuge with the Khazars, he tried to have his rival extradited and executed. But Justinian eluded capture and returned to Constantinople at the head of a polyglot army in AD 705. Caught unprepared, Tiberius tried to flee, but was captured and executed. The scarce coinage of Tiberius shows him as a military man, armed with spear and shield, a motif that had not been seen in decades.
Estimate: 1500-2000 USD