Roma Numismatics Ltd
E-Sale 83 6 May 2021
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Justinian I Æ 40 Nummi. Rome, AD 538-544. D И IVSTIИIANVS P P AVG, pearl-diademed, draped and cuirassed bust to right / Large M, cross above, A below, star to left, cross to right, ROMA below; all within wreath. MIBE V218; DOC 324c; Sear 298; CNG 112, 677; The New York Sale XXXVII, 945 (rev. exergual line). 13.24g, 28mm, 6h.
Good Very Fine; flan crack at 9/7h, pleasant green patina. Extremely Rare; only two other examples of the type on CoinArchives.
From a private English collection.
Desirous of re-establishing the full extent of the Roman Empire, the Emperor Justinian appointed Belisarius to begin the re-conquering 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 or shortly after which time this coin was 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 Very Fine; flan crack at 9/7h, pleasant green patina. Extremely Rare; only two other examples of the type on CoinArchives.
From a private English collection.
Desirous of re-establishing the full extent of the Roman Empire, the Emperor Justinian appointed Belisarius to begin the re-conquering 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 or shortly after which time this coin was 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.