Roma Numismatics Ltd
Auction XIII 23 March 2017
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Heraclius AV Solidus. Uncertain eastern mint (Jerusalem or a mint in Syria?), late AD 610-611. DN hERACLIVS P P AVI, crowned and cuirassed bust facing (which resembles Phocas), holding globus cruciger / VICTORIA AVGV IΠ, angel standing facing, holding long staff surmounted by staurogram and globus cruciger; CONOB in exergue. DOC 186 (Alexandria); MIB 76 (Cyprus?); Bendall, Jerusalem 3 (Jerusalem?); Sear 850 (Jerusalem). 4.39g, 22mm, 6h.
Good Extremely Fine. Minor die break at 2h on rev., slight bend in outer edge of flan in same area. Struck on a broad flan and with lustrous, mirror-like surfaces. Extremely Rare.
After two years of fuelling discontent at the tyranny of Phocas, at last the younger Heraclius felt confident to challenge the emperor in his capital and was successful in deposing him. Struck at an uncertain eastern mint that still has yet to be definitively located, this extremely rare solidus represents one of the first issues for Heraclius as sole emperor and clearly depicts the new emperor with the likeness of Phocas, as a new imperial image had not yet been received at the mint.
Originally attributed to Jerusalem, more recent scholarship has cast doubt on this without giving a definite alternative, though a date of late 610-611 is certain. Issues with the IΠ, I and IX mintmark were likely struck to pay soldiers who had been loyal to the Heraclii rather than being regular issues and, disappearing shortly after the Sasanian invasion of the eastern provinces in 614, may even have been the product of a military mint.
Good Extremely Fine. Minor die break at 2h on rev., slight bend in outer edge of flan in same area. Struck on a broad flan and with lustrous, mirror-like surfaces. Extremely Rare.
After two years of fuelling discontent at the tyranny of Phocas, at last the younger Heraclius felt confident to challenge the emperor in his capital and was successful in deposing him. Struck at an uncertain eastern mint that still has yet to be definitively located, this extremely rare solidus represents one of the first issues for Heraclius as sole emperor and clearly depicts the new emperor with the likeness of Phocas, as a new imperial image had not yet been received at the mint.
Originally attributed to Jerusalem, more recent scholarship has cast doubt on this without giving a definite alternative, though a date of late 610-611 is certain. Issues with the IΠ, I and IX mintmark were likely struck to pay soldiers who had been loyal to the Heraclii rather than being regular issues and, disappearing shortly after the Sasanian invasion of the eastern provinces in 614, may even have been the product of a military mint.