Roma Numismatics Ltd
Auction XVIII 29 Sep 2019
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Justinian I Æ 20 Nummi - Half Follis. Rome, circa AD 537-539. D N IVSTINIAИVS, pearl-diademed, draped, and cuirassed bust right / Large K, star to left, cross to right; all within wreath. DOC 325a; MIB 222; Sear 301. 6.69g, 21mm, 6h.
Good Extremely Fine; beautiful light green patina. Rare, exceptionally so in this condition.
From the inventory of a European dealer.
Desirous of re-establishing the full extent of the Roman Empire, the Emperor Justinian appointed Belisarius to begin the reconquering of those areas under the control of the Vandals and the Ostrogoths. Belisarius, despite having extremely limited forces and means at his disposal, successfully retook North Africa, Sicily and Naples for the Empire. As Belisarius then marched north towards Rome, the Ostrogoths left the city, having understood that the citizens of the city decisively supported Belisarius. The celebrations following Belisarius' historic entry into the ancient capital of the Roman Empire were short-lived; the Ostrogothic army under their king Vitiges soon laid siege to the city defended now by the greatly outnumbered men of Belisarius' expeditionary force. The siege lasted in all for a year and nine days (from 2 March 537- 12 March 538), during which time these coins appear to have been struck. The Ostrogoths eventually abandoned the siege in order to defend Ravenna against John, Belisarius' subordinate general who by capturing Ariminum with a detachment of two thousand men posed a grave threat to the Ostrogoth capital which was barely a day's march away.
Good Extremely Fine; beautiful light green patina. Rare, exceptionally so in this condition.
From the inventory of a European dealer.
Desirous of re-establishing the full extent of the Roman Empire, the Emperor Justinian appointed Belisarius to begin the reconquering of those areas under the control of the Vandals and the Ostrogoths. Belisarius, despite having extremely limited forces and means at his disposal, successfully retook North Africa, Sicily and Naples for the Empire. As Belisarius then marched north towards Rome, the Ostrogoths left the city, having understood that the citizens of the city decisively supported Belisarius. The celebrations following Belisarius' historic entry into the ancient capital of the Roman Empire were short-lived; the Ostrogothic army under their king Vitiges soon laid siege to the city defended now by the greatly outnumbered men of Belisarius' expeditionary force. The siege lasted in all for a year and nine days (from 2 March 537- 12 March 538), during which time these coins appear to have been struck. The Ostrogoths eventually abandoned the siege in order to defend Ravenna against John, Belisarius' subordinate general who by capturing Ariminum with a detachment of two thousand men posed a grave threat to the Ostrogoth capital which was barely a day's march away.