Lot 765

Description

Maurice Tiberius, (A.D.582-602), gold solidus, Constantine in Numidia mint, (3.3 grams), uncertain Officina, a light weight issue?, obv. helmeted with plume, draped and cuirassed bust of Maurice Tiberius facing, of broad and long face, holding globe surmounted by cross, [D N] MAVRC TIb PP AVG around, rev. VICTORI A AVC[C E?], around, CON[OB] in exergue, Angel standing facing holding long staff surmounted by P with cross, and cross on globe, (S.573, DOC. 257 [same obverse die], To.-, R.-). With full broad face, unusual style, weak in centre, slightly off centred, otherwise very fine and an extremely rare mint.

The light weight has no obvious explanation, except it might have been clipped in antiquity. The DOC light weight example weighs at 2.93 grams and both DOC examples of this mint are from the same obverse die as this coin. Hahn suggests the issue as coming from Sicily.