Description
Flavius Iustinus, Byzantine Emperor of the Justinian Dynasty 518-527 AD, Gold Solidus (4.48g, 20mm), Constantinople mint circa 519-527 AD. Obverse: Pearl-diademed, helmeted and cuirassed bust of Justin I facing forward, head turned slightly to the right, wielding spear and shield; his weapon extends behind and his shield, which is decorated with a horseman motif, rests on his left shoulder, legend surrounds, “DN IVSTINVS PP AVC”. Reverse: Male Angel stands facing forward, holding long linear cross in his right hand and Globus Cruciger in his left; star within right field, mintmark “CONOB” in exergue, legend surrounds, “VICTORIA AVCCC S”. Sear-56; DOC-2b. An impressive piece of Justin I, perfectly centred and in quite neat style – the appeal only bolstered by a fortunate absence of graffiti, minor areas of weakness, otherwise good Extremely Fine, reverse Extremely Fine.
The obverse Latin legend reads “Dominus Noster, Iustinus, Perpetuus Augustus”, with an English translation of “Our Lord, Justin, the perpetual Augustus”. The reverse Latin legend reads “Victōria Augustōrum” followed by the 6th officina letter “S”, with an English translation of “Victory of the Augusti”. Despite the Western Empire’s fall and the lack of co-rulers to those of the East, the use of the Genitive plural of “Augustus” on the reverse is likely a general term referring victory to all of the current and future Emperors.