64 / 128
62
22 Siliqua
252.
Tiberius II.
578-582 AD. 22 Siliqua, 4.12g (5h).
Antioch. Obv: Armored facing bust of Tiberius
holding globus cruciger. Rx: VICTORI - AAVGG
ΘS Cross on four steps, OB+* in exergue. DO 38.
MIB 5. Sear 446. Mint State
$750
Artavasdus: Sear 1542/DOC 2b (this coin)
253.
Artavasdus and Nicephorus.
July 742-2 Nov. 743
AD. Solidus, 4.44g (5h). Constantinople. Obv: ∂
APTAЧA - SDOS MЧLT Facing bust of Artavasdus
with slight beard, wearing crown and chalmys, and
holding patriarchal cross before him. Rx: ∂ NIChFO
R - ЧS MЧLTЧ A Θ (the F inverted) Facing bust
of his son Nicephorus, beardless, wearing crown
and loros and holding patriarchal cross before him.
Sear 1542 (this coin illustrated). DOC 2b (this coin).
Paris p. 479 (mentioning this coin). This is prob-
ably one of the finest surviving solidi of the usurper
Artavasdus. Mint State
$42,000
Ex Heritage 3035, Long Beach, 3 September 2014,
lot 29522 (Dimitriadis Collection); ex Sotheby’s, 2
November 1998, lot 404; ex Bonham’s, 3 December
1980, lot 256
.
254.
Leo IV, the Khazar.
775-780 AD. Solidus, 4.40g
(6h). Constantinople. Obv: LEONVS S[ EςςON
CONSTANT]INOS O NEOS Facing busts of Leo
IV, with short beard (on left) and Constantine VI,
beardless (on right), each wearing crown and chla-
mys; between their heads, pellet; in field above,
cross. Rx: LEON PAP’ CONSTA[NTINOS PATHR]
Facing busts of Leo III (on left) and Constantine
V (on right) both with short beards, each wearing
crown and loros; between their heads, pellet in field;
above, cross. Berk 232. DO 1. Sear 1583. Some
areas of flat striking, otherwise EF
$500
255.
Constantine VI and Irene.
780-797 AD. Solidus,
4.41g (6h). Constantinople, c. 790-792 AD. Obv:
S I[RINI] - AVΓ’ - MIT - H A’ Facing busts of
Constantine VI, beardless (on left) and Irene (on
right), both crowned and with cross and pellet
between their heads; Constantine holds cross on
globe in right hand, while his mother holds cross on
globe in right and cruciform scepter in left. Rx: [C]
OnST - AnThOS - CA b› Δ› Leo III, Constantine V
and Leo IV seated facing, each wearing crown and
chlamys. DO 1. Sear 1593. EF
$4,500
256.
Irene.
Solidus, 3.85g (5h). Syracuse. Obv: I - RIn -
bA[SILISSH] Facing crowned bust of Irene holding
globus cruciger and cruciform scepter. Rx: [IRIn]
- bASILI Same portrait as on obverse, flanked by
C - I in field. DO 4. Sear 1602. This issue was virtu-
ally unknown until a few years ago. Now for a short
time they will be available. Mint State
$6,000
Enlargement