Ancient Gold

Lot 2165       Ancient Gold

Estimate $900
Bid at live.noble.com.au
SOLD $460

HERACLIUS, Revolt of (A.D. 608-610), gold tremissis, Cyprus mint, (1.328 grams), issued October to December 610, obv. diademed bust of Heraclius draped and cuirassed to right, around DN TIb E RI P P AV, rev. Cross potent on base, around VICTORIA AVGU, in exergue CONOB, (S.721 note, Hahn MIB No.9 [same obverse die and a new reverse die], Bib. Nat. 1 (Maurice, Alexandria mint). Large broad flan, extremely fine and excessively rare, possibly the second known example.

Wolfgang Hahn in 'Moneta Imperii Byzantini (volume 2)' re-attributes this piece from Alexandia mint under Maurice Tiberius to the revolt of Heraclius. This issue was struck in Cyprus. The obverse has a die link with a reverse with the legend VICTORI TIBERI AVC. That same obverse die is very similar to another obverse die with the same dies but featuring the different reverse legends of VICTORI FOCA AVG and VICTORI CONNSAB IA. Consequently the attribution of our coin to this revolt of Heraclius is certain. It appears that this piece is the first of this series to come onto the market which is identifiable as an issue of the Revolt of Heraclius.