Lot 673
Heraclius. Gold Solidus (4.52 g), 610-641. Uncertain eastern military mint, ca. 613-616. [d]d NN hERACLIЧS Eτ hRA CONST P, crowned and draped busts of Heraclius, on left, and Heraclius Constantine, on right, facing on exergual line; cross above. Reverse: VICT[O]RIA AVGЧ, cross potent set on two steps; IΠ//CONOB. DOC 187b (Alexandria); Bendall type 4, figs. 14 and 16; MIBE 77/8-77/9 (Cyprus); SB 851 (Jerusalem). Extremely Fine.
These solidi of Heraclius with coarse, squat figures (often above an exergual line) and with the letters I, IX or I? at the end of the reverse legend, are likely from a military mint operating in northern Syria, or perhaps in Egypt, which supplied coinage for the forces of Heraclius fighting the Sasanians who had occupied much of the region. There are other solidi of Heraclius, struck at Constantinople early in the reign, which also sometimes have an exergual line on the obverse, but the style of the figures on these solidi is considerably more refined, and also they lack the reverse letters. For additional information on this interesting period and coinage, see S. Bendall, "The Byzantine coinage of the mint of Jerusalem," RN 159 (2003), pp. 307-22.
Estimated Value $500-UP.
From the Alexander White III Collection.
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| Realized $761 |
