Description
Focas, Usurper against Maurice Tiberius and Byzantine Emperor 602-610 AD, Gold Solidus (4.47g, 20mm), Constantinople mint 602-610 AD. Obverse: Draped and cuirassed bust of Phocas facing forward, wearing crown without pendilia and holding globus cruciger forward in right hand, legend surrounds, “ON FOCAS PЄRP AVC”. Reverse: Angel central standing forward, draped and with wings spread, holding long staff surmounted by staurogram (tau-rho) in right hand and globus cruciger in left, exergual-ground line below, mintmark “CONOB” in exergue, legend surrounds, “VICTORIA AVCC Γ”. Sear-618; DOC-5c. Albeit the minor dig on the reverse, the offered piece is choicely centred and overall well struck, the flan is bright and lustrous, Extremely Fine.
The Obverse Latin legend reads “Dominus Noster, Focas, Perpetuus Augustus”, with an English translaton of “Our Lord, Focas, the perpetual Augustus”. The Reverse Latin legend reads “Victōria Augustōrum” followed by the 3rd officina letter “Γ”, with an English translation of “Victory of the Augusti”.