Description
Flavius Petrus Sabbatius Iustinianus, Byzantine Emperor of the Justinian Dynasty 527-565 AD, Gold Solidus (4.48g, 20mm), Constantinople mint 545-565 AD. Obverse: Helmeted and cuirassed bust of Justinian I facing forward, holding globus cruciger aloft in right hand and shield, which is decorated with a horseman motif, in his left which rests on his shoulder, legend surrounds, “DN IVSTINIANVS PP AVI”. Reverse: Angel stands facing forward, draped and with wings spread, holding long sceptre surmounted by Tau Rho in right hand and globus cruciger aloft in left, exergual-ground line below, mintmark “CONOB” in exergue, legend surrounds, “VICTORIA AVCCC H”. Sear-140; DOC-9h. Although struck with a somewhat corroded obverse die, the flan is fresh and lustrous and the obverse itself is very attractive, displaying the archetypical Justinian portrait, Extremely Fine.
The Obverse Latin legend reads “Dominus Noster, Justinianus, Perpetuus Augustus”, with an English translaton of “Our Lord, Justinian, the perpetual Augustus”. The Reverse Latin legend reads “Victōria Augustōrum” followed by the 8th officina letter “H”, with an English translation of “Victory of the Augusti”.