![BYZANTINE. Tiberius III, Solidus, 698-705 AD [ARB-48] - Image 2](https://colonialcoins.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/ARB-48-1.jpg)
Description
Tibérios III ‘Apsímaros’ (Tiberius III Apsimar), Byzantine Emperor during the ‘Twenty Years’ Anarchy’ 698-705 AD, Gold Solidus (4.34g, 20mm), Constantinople mint 695-705 AD, 7th Officina “Z”. Obverse: Facing bust of Tiberius III Apsimar, crowned and cuirassed and wielding spear and shield adorned with equestrian motif, legend surrounds, “D tIbЄRIЧS PЄ AV”. Reverse: Cross Potent set on four steps, mintmark and fineness “CON OB” in exergue, legend surrounds, “VICTORIA AVϚЧ Z”. DOC-1f; Sear-1360. A touch off centre on the reverse and some trifling marks, the obverse quite choice and very appealing – a great type example of the 20-year anarchy period, Extremely Fine.
The obverse Latin legend reads unabridged as “Dominus, Tiberius, perpetuus Augustus”, with an English translation of “Lord, Tiberius, the perpetual Augustus”. The reverse Latin legend reads “Victōria Augustus” followed by the seventh Officina letter “Z”, with an English translation of “Victory of the Augustus”. The Latin in the reverse exergue reads “Cōnstantīnopolis, obryzum”, with an English translation of “of the city of Constantinople, pure gold” – this had an unabridged meaning of “minted in the city of Constantinople, 1/72 of a Roman Pound of pure gold”, as “OB” was short for the Latin “obryzum” as well as the Greek numerals for “72”.
Born with the name Apsímaros (Ἀψίμαρος), he was a droungários, a mid-rank military officer, who was present for John the Patrician’s campaign to reclaim Carthage from the Umayyad Caliphate, who at the time were renewing their attack on the Exarchate of Africa. Although seeing initial success in reclaiming the city, the Byzantines were forced to retreat to Crete when the Caliphate counterattacked and retook Carthage, and in fear of reporting their failures to Byzantine Emperor Leóntios, the officers of the army killed John the Patrician and declared Apsimar as Emperor, who accepted and took the regnal name Tiberius (enumerated as Tiberius III). Abandoning Africa, the army departed and gathered strength, amassing a fleet as well as political support and setting sail for Constantinople in 697 AD. The capitol was sieged for several months before the city gates were opened from within, allowing Tiberius’ armies to enter and plunder; Leontius was deposed and instead of being killed, Tiberius had his nose slit and forced to live in the Monastery of Psamathion. Tiberius III ‘Apsimar’ was crowned by Patriarch Callinicus I of Constantinople soon after, now year 698 AD, and would rule for 7 years during the period known as the ‘Twenty Years’ Anarchy’.
