Numismatica Ars Classica
Auction 106 9-10 May 2018
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Maurice Tiberius, 582 - 602. Solidus, Rome circa 583-584, AV 4.41 g. D N mAVRIC - TIb P P AVG Draped and cuirassed bust facing, wearing plumed helmet and holding globus cruciger. Rev. VICTORI - A AVGGP Angel standing facing, holding long linear staff surmounted by Christogram and globus cruciger; in exergue, CONOB. DO –. MIBE 30. Sear 584.
Exceedingly rare, very few specimens known. Struck from worn dies and with
an insignificant area of weakness on reverse, otherwise about extremely fine
Born to Greek or Armenian parents in Cappadocia in 539, Maurice grew up to become secretary to Tiberius (II), the comes excubitorum (commander of the imperial bodyguard) at Constantinople. When Tiberius II was appointed Caesar in 574, Maurice was appointed to his old position. He loyally served Tiberius II, and waged a successful war against the Sasanian Empire on his behalf. Maurice's successes brought him elevated social position, and the hand of Tiberius' daughter,
Constantina. Tiberius II died in 582, leaving Maurice to take up the reigns of power. Unfortunately for Maurice, the empire that his father-in-law left him was almost completely bankrupt, still embroiled in conflict with Persia, and suffering from invasion by the Avars and Slavs. The new emperor had no other choice but to take up his military mantle once again and try to bring an end to the destructive wars. Thanks to a civil war within the Sasanian dynasty and a decade of hard fighting, Maurice was able to bring a successful conclusion to the war against Persia in 591. This conflict, which ended with Maurice joining forces with the Sasanian usurper, Khusrau II, won for the Byzantine empire long-contested territories in Armenia and the remission of tribute formerly paid to maintain peace. Once the Persian war was settled, Maurice turned his attention to the Avars and Slavs in the Balkans. In a series of campaigns fought from 591 to 594, these barbarians were pushed back and Byzantine frontier defenses restored along the Danube. Despite these successes, Maurice was chronically short on money to govern and defend the empire from its many external enemies. As a cost saving measure, in 602, the emperor decreed that the army should continue campaigning beyond the Danube rather than return to winter quarters. At this the exhausted troops began to mutiny under the leadership of an officer named Phocas. The military disturbances sparked riots in Constantinople and Maurice attempted to flee to Nicomedia with his family. However, Phocas and the army soon arrived and captured them before they could make good their escape. It is reported that the cruel Phocas, who was proclaimed the new emperor, forced Maurice to watch the execution of his six sons before he was himself executed. The violent death of Maurice was immediately used as a pretext by Khusrau II to begin a new Persian-Byzntine war. With the fall of the axe, Phocas had undone the greatest of Maurice's triumphs.
This rare gold solidus of Maurice Tiberius follows the basic iconographic model established during the reign of Anastasius I (491-518). The emperor appears on the obverse helmeted and armored in order to defend the empire against its enemies, but also carries a globus cruciger to indicate his universal authority sanctioned by Heaven. The reverse celebrates the victories of Maurice and Theodosius (his eldest son who had been made co-emperor in 590) and depicts a winged figure who could still be read as the old pagan personification of Victory, but was recast as a Christian angel through the addition of a globus cruciger and a sceptre topped with a Chi-Rho.
Exceedingly rare, very few specimens known. Struck from worn dies and with
an insignificant area of weakness on reverse, otherwise about extremely fine
Born to Greek or Armenian parents in Cappadocia in 539, Maurice grew up to become secretary to Tiberius (II), the comes excubitorum (commander of the imperial bodyguard) at Constantinople. When Tiberius II was appointed Caesar in 574, Maurice was appointed to his old position. He loyally served Tiberius II, and waged a successful war against the Sasanian Empire on his behalf. Maurice's successes brought him elevated social position, and the hand of Tiberius' daughter,
Constantina. Tiberius II died in 582, leaving Maurice to take up the reigns of power. Unfortunately for Maurice, the empire that his father-in-law left him was almost completely bankrupt, still embroiled in conflict with Persia, and suffering from invasion by the Avars and Slavs. The new emperor had no other choice but to take up his military mantle once again and try to bring an end to the destructive wars. Thanks to a civil war within the Sasanian dynasty and a decade of hard fighting, Maurice was able to bring a successful conclusion to the war against Persia in 591. This conflict, which ended with Maurice joining forces with the Sasanian usurper, Khusrau II, won for the Byzantine empire long-contested territories in Armenia and the remission of tribute formerly paid to maintain peace. Once the Persian war was settled, Maurice turned his attention to the Avars and Slavs in the Balkans. In a series of campaigns fought from 591 to 594, these barbarians were pushed back and Byzantine frontier defenses restored along the Danube. Despite these successes, Maurice was chronically short on money to govern and defend the empire from its many external enemies. As a cost saving measure, in 602, the emperor decreed that the army should continue campaigning beyond the Danube rather than return to winter quarters. At this the exhausted troops began to mutiny under the leadership of an officer named Phocas. The military disturbances sparked riots in Constantinople and Maurice attempted to flee to Nicomedia with his family. However, Phocas and the army soon arrived and captured them before they could make good their escape. It is reported that the cruel Phocas, who was proclaimed the new emperor, forced Maurice to watch the execution of his six sons before he was himself executed. The violent death of Maurice was immediately used as a pretext by Khusrau II to begin a new Persian-Byzntine war. With the fall of the axe, Phocas had undone the greatest of Maurice's triumphs.
This rare gold solidus of Maurice Tiberius follows the basic iconographic model established during the reign of Anastasius I (491-518). The emperor appears on the obverse helmeted and armored in order to defend the empire against its enemies, but also carries a globus cruciger to indicate his universal authority sanctioned by Heaven. The reverse celebrates the victories of Maurice and Theodosius (his eldest son who had been made co-emperor in 590) and depicts a winged figure who could still be read as the old pagan personification of Victory, but was recast as a Christian angel through the addition of a globus cruciger and a sceptre topped with a Chi-Rho.