Classical Numismatic Group, LLC
Triton XVII Sessions 3 & 4 8 January 2014
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Anastasius I. 491-518. AR Half Siliqua – 300 Nummi (14mm, 1.05 g, 6h). Uncertain mint. Struck circa 498-512. D N ANASTASIVS P (AVC), diademed, draped, and cuirassed bust right / Large T. Bendall, New 1; DOC –; MIBE –; SB –; Gorny & Mosch 212, lot 3095 (same dies, but chipped and underweight). VF, toned. Extremely rare – the fifth known specimen.
The remarkable reverse design T can only be interpreted as the Greek numeral for 300, indicating a denomination of 300 nummi. This is the first use of a numeral as the main reverse type on a Byzantine silver coin (anticipating the later use of the CN denomination by Justinian I) but is consistent with Anastasius' use of the denomination as a main type on his reformed bronze coinage. Whatever the intent, the experiment in this case was not repeated, for this is the only occurrence of a half siliqua explicitly valued at 300 nummi in all of Byzantine coinage.
The remarkable reverse design T can only be interpreted as the Greek numeral for 300, indicating a denomination of 300 nummi. This is the first use of a numeral as the main reverse type on a Byzantine silver coin (anticipating the later use of the CN denomination by Justinian I) but is consistent with Anastasius' use of the denomination as a main type on his reformed bronze coinage. Whatever the intent, the experiment in this case was not repeated, for this is the only occurrence of a half siliqua explicitly valued at 300 nummi in all of Byzantine coinage.