Description
Constans II Pogonatus, Byzantine Emperor of the Heraclian Dynasty 641-668 AD, with Constantine IV, Gold Solidus (4.39g, 20mm), Constantinople mint 654-659 AD. Obverse: Busts of Constans II on the left, bearded, and Constantine IV on the right, unbearded, facing forward, each crowned and wearing chlamys, cross above, legend surrounds, “dN CONStANtINЧS CONSTANS”. Reverse: Cross Potent set on three stairs, mintmark and purity “CONOB” in exergue, legend surrounds, “VICTORI[A AV]ϚЧ I”. Doc-25j; Sear-959. Struck slightly off centre on the reverse with flatness over upper devices, the obverse quite choice and with portraits of typical style, an admirable example of the Constans II ‘the bearded’, Extremely Fine.
The Obverse Latin legend reads “dominī nostrī, Cōnstantīnus, Cōnstāns”, with an English translation of “Our Lords, Constantine, Constans”. The reverse Latin legend reads “Victōria Augustōrum” followed by the 10th Officina letter “I”, with an English translation of “Victory of the Augusti”. The Latin in the exergue reads “Cōnstantīnopolis, obryzum”, with an English translation of “of the city of Constantinople, pure gold” – this had an implied meaning of “Minted in the city of Constantinople, 1/72 of a Roman Pound of pure gold”.
