Lot 1761

Description

Justinian II with Tiberius, (705-711), gold solidus, issue of 705-711 (Justinian II seciond reign), Constantinople mint, (4.30 grams), obv. bust of Christ facing with cross behind head, curly hair and close beard, wears pallium and colobium, raising hand in benediction, around DN IhS ChS REX RE[GN]ANTIUM, rev. half length figures of Justinian on left and Tiberius on right facing each wearing crown divitision and chlamys, hold between them cross potent, around [D N IUSTINIA]NUS ET TIbERIUS P P A, (S.1415, DOC 2b, R.1705, BMC 1-2). Spade gash on edge at legend, slightly off centred on the reverse otherwise extremely fine and rare.

The earliest portrait iof Jesus Christ in Byzantine coinage.