Ancient Gold

Lot 1997       Ancient Gold

Estimate $700
Bid at live.noble.com.au

JUSTINIAN I, (A.D.527-565), gold solidus, Constantinople mint, (4.07 grams), issued 538-545, obv. bust of Justinian I facing, with plume and diadem, two pearls at each side, wearing cuirass with three pellets, d N IVSTINI ANVS PP AVC around, rev. Angel facing in tunic and pallium, in right hand long cross of pellets, globe in left hand, around VICTORI A AVGGG, CONOB in exergue, (cf.S.138, cf.DOC.7). Clipped along one edge, otherwise nearly extremely fine and unpublished.

This issue has certain features that ties it into DOW 7, in that the absence of a cross on the globe on the reverse and the absence of an officina letter distinguishes this group from all other solidus issues of Justinian I. These features are present on this coin but in addition the lack of the usual star on the reverse in the field on the right makes it an important variant in this group. Hahn has attributed this type to Thessalonica mint and probably is the preferred mint. This particular variant without star appears to be unpublished and is an important addition to this series.