Byzantine Coins of Heraclius

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Heraclius, 5 October 610 - 11 January 641 A.D.

Joint rule with Heraclius Constantine (his son), 23 January 613 - 3 July 638 A.D.
Joint rule with Heraclius Constantine and Heraclonas (his sons), 4 July 638 - 11 January 641 A.D.
Heraclius came to power in 610 following a successful revolt in North Africa against the tyrannical rule of the Emperor Focas. His son Heraclius Constantine was elevated to joint rule in 613 A.D. Heraclius' most spectacular military achievement was the total defeat of Rome's old enemy on the eastern frontier, the Sassanid Persians. Unfortunately, this only facilitated the Arab conquest of Persia and the eastern provinces of the Byzantine Empire. The Byzantines lost Syria and Palestine before Heraclius died in early 641 A.D. and Egypt fell to the Arabs soon after.

Byzantine Empire, Heraclius, Heraclius Constantine, and Heraclonas, 632 - 641 A.D.
	Although Hahn identifies three examples, this type from the 10th officina is missing from the major collections.

SH56794. Gold solidus, DOC II part 1, 43 var (officina I not listed); Ratto 1488 - 1490 var (same), Tolstoi 383 var (same), Wroth BMC 60 var (same); SBCV 769; Hahn MIB 50, aEF, area of flat strike, weight 4.445 g, maximum diameter 19.7 mm, die axis 180^o, 10th officina, Constantinople mint, 639(?) - 641; obverse Heraclius with long beard and mustache between his sons, Heraclonas on left and Heraclius Constantine on right, all stand facing, each wears crown and chlamys and holds globus cruciger in right; reverse VICTORIA AVGu I, cross potent on three steps, Heraclian monogram left, no symbol right, CONOB in ex; rare variant; $700.00 (�539.00)

Byzantine Empire, Heraclius & Heraclius Constantine, 23 January 613 - 11 January 641 A.D.
	According to Islamic tradition, in 621, Muhammad made the Night Journey on the steed Buraq from Mecca to Jerusalem's Temple Mount, and then he ascended to heaven where he spoke with God who gave instructions regarding prayer, and then rode back to Mecca.

SH64062. Gold solidus, Hahn MIB 37a; SBCV 751; DOC II part 1, 30 (first officina not listed); Morrisson 35 (same); Wroth BMC 42 (same); Tolstoi 175 (same); Ratto -, VF, weight 4.281 g, maximum diameter 19.8 mm, die axis 180^o, 5th officina, Constantinople mint, c. 626 - 629 A.D.; obverse dd NN hERACLIuS et hERA CONSt pp AVG, facing busts of Heraclius, with long beard, and his son Heraclius Constantine, beardless, much smaller, cross above; reverse VICTORIA AVGu A, cross potent on three steps, K right, CONOB in ex; rare; $695.00 (�535.15)

Byzantine Empire, Heraclius & Heraclius Constantine, 23 January 613 - 11 January 641 A.D.
	According to Islamic tradition, in 621, Muhammad made the Night Journey on the steed Buraq from Mecca to Jerusalem's Temple Mount, and then he ascended to heaven where he spoke with God who gave instructions regarding prayer, and then rode back to Mecca.

SH56802. Gold solidus, DOC II part 1, 9a; Wroth BMC -; Tolstoi 140 - 141; Ratto 1361; Morrisson 14; Hahn MIB 9; SBCV 736, gVF, graffiti, weight 4.373 g, maximum diameter 21.4 mm, die axis 180^o, 5th officina, Constantinople mint, c. 616 - 625 A.D.; obverse dd NN hERACLIuS et hERA CONSt pp AVG, facing busts of Heraclius, with short beard, and his son Heraclius Constantine, beardless, much smaller, cross above; reverse VICTORIA AVGu E, cross potent on three steps, N right, CONOB in ex; $645.00 (�496.65)

Byzantine Empire, Heraclius & Heraclius Constantine, 23 January 613 - 11 January 641 A.D.

In 626, Constantinople was under siege by horde of about 80,000 Avars, Slavs, Bulgars, and other "barbarians" and a small Persian army allied with them. On 31 July, the barbarian and Persian allies launched an attack along the entire 5.7 kilometer length of the Theodosian Walls using the most current trebuchets, mobile armored shelters, and siege towers. On the walls, 12,000 well-trained Byzantine troops fought fiercely, holding off assault after assault. On 7 August the Persian fleet was destroyed while ferrying reinforcements. The Avars, having suffered terrible losses, and short of food and supplies, burned their siege engines and retreated to the Balkan Peninsula. Constantinople was saved.

SH59471. Gold solidus, DOC II part 1, 20e; Hahn MIB 21; Morrison 27; SBCV 743; Ratto -; Wroth BMC -; Tolstoi -, VF, graffiti on reverse, weight 4.439 g, maximum diameter 20.6 mm, die axis 180^o, 5th officina, Constantinople mint, c. 626 - 629 A.D.; obverse dd NN hERACLIuS et hERA CONSt pp AVG, facing busts of Heraclius and his son Heraclius Constantine, wearing simple crowns with cross on a circlet, cross above; reverse VICTORIA AVGu E, cross potent on three steps, CONOB in ex, graffiti in fields; $550.00 (�423.50)

Byzantine Empire, Heraclius, Heraclius Constantine, and Heraclonas, 632 - 641 A.D.
	In 632, Heraclonas, Heraclius younger son, was designated Caesar and added to the coinage. Heraclonas was seven years old. The Heraclian monogram on the reverse replaces the more typical obverse inscription.

SH59472. Gold solidus, SBCV 762; Hahn MIB 43; Morrison 46 ff. var (2nd off. not listed), DOC II part 1, 37 (none of the type in the collection, 2nd officina not listed), VF, graffiti, weight 4.334 g, maximum diameter 20.2 mm, die axis 180^o, 2nd officina, Constantinople mint, c. 636 - 637; obverse Heraclius with his sons, all stand facing holding globus cruciger in right; Heraclius with mustache, long beard, and crown; Heraclius Constantine (on right) beardless wearing crown; Heraclonas (on left) wearing plain cap, cross above his head; reverse VICTORIA AVGu B, cross potent on three steps, Heraclian monogram left, I right, CONOB+ in ex; rare officina; $550.00 (�423.50)

Byzantine Empire, Heraclius & Heraclius Constantine, 23 January 613 - 11 January 641 A.D.

SH56783. Gold solidus, Hahn MIB 11; Morrisson BN 19; Ratto 1365; Tolstoi 157; SBCV 738; DOC II part 1, 13i var (pellet in right field), VF, graffiti, weight 4.411 g, maximum diameter 19.1 mm, die axis 195^o, 10th officina, Constantinople mint, c. 616 - 625 A.D.; obverse D N N hERACILUS ET hERA CONST PP AV, facing busts of Heraclius and his son Heraclius Constantine, cross above; reverse VICTORIA AVGY I, cross potent on three steps, CONOB in ex, graffiti: Z - X across field, KAPA... below mint mark; $540.00 (�415.80)

Byzantine Empire, Heraclius, Heraclius Constantine, and Heraclonas, 632 - 641 A.D.
	In 632, Heraclonas, Heraclius younger son, was designated Caesar and added to the coinage. Heraclonas was seven years old. The Heraclian monogram on the reverse replaces the more typical obverse inscription.

SH56803. Gold solidus, DOC II part 1, 43e; Wroth BMC 67; Tolstoi 396; Ratto 1490; Morrisson 70; Hahn MIB 50; SBCV 769, gVF, weight 4.637 g, maximum diameter 19.5 mm, die axis 180^o, 6th officina, Constantinople mint, 639(?) - 641; obverse Heraclius with long beard and mustache between his sons, Heraclonas on left and Heraclius Constantine on right, all stand facing, each wears crown and chlamys and holds globus cruciger in right; reverse VICTORIA AVGu S, cross potent on three steps, Heraclian monogram left, no symbol right, CONOB in ex; $525.00 (�404.25)

Byzantine Empire, Heraclius, Heraclius Constantine, and Heraclonas, 632 - 641 A.D.
	In 632, Heraclonas, Heraclius younger son, was designated Caesar and added to the coinage. Heraclonas was seven years old. The Heraclian monogram on the reverse replaces the more typical obverse inscription.

SH56779. Gold solidus, Morrisson 67; Ratto 1488; DOC II part 1, 43a (no examples in the collection, references Ratto 1488); Hahn MIB 50; SBCV 769; Wroth BMC -, gVF, weight 4.352 g, maximum diameter 20.1 mm, die axis 180^o, 2nd officina, Constantinople mint, 639(?) - 641; obverse Heraclius with long beard and mustache between his sons, Heraclonas on left and Heraclius Constantine on right, all stand facing, each wears crown and chlamys and holds globus cruciger in right; reverse VICTORIA AVGu B, cross potent on three steps, Heraclian monogram left, no symbol right, CONOB in ex; $485.00 (�373.45)

Byzantine Empire, Heraclius & Heraclius Constantine, 23 January 613 - 11 January 641 A.D.
	Heraclius came to power through revolt against the tyrannical Focas. He defeated the Sassanid Persians, but this only facilitated Arab conquest of Persia and the eastern Byzantine Empire. The Byzantines lost Syria and Palestine before Heraclius died and Egypt fell soon after.

SH56799. Gold solidus, DOC II part 1, 26j; Wroth BMC 45; Tolstoi 182; Hahn MIB 29; SBCV 749; Morrisson 34; Ratto 1369 ff. var (officina), VF, weight 4.344 g, maximum diameter 19.4 mm, die axis 180^o, Constantinople mint, c. 625 - 632 A.D.; obverse dd NN hERACLIuS et hERA CONSt pp AV, facing busts of Heraclius, wearing long beard, and his son Heraclius Constantine with short beard, cross above; reverse VICTORIA AVGu I, cross potent on three steps, CONOB in ex, die crack; uncleaned; $450.00 (�346.50)

Heraclius offered peace to Khosrau, presumably in 624, threatening otherwise to invade Persia, but Khosrau rejected the offer. Heraclius marched into Persia with an army of probably less than 25,000 men, willingly abandoning any attempt to secure his rear or maintain lines of communication. Heraclius fought brilliantly and bravely repeatedly defeated the Persian forces. When the war ended in 628, Khosrau had been murdered by his own men, the Byzantines regained all their lost territories, their captured soldiers, a war indemnity, and most importantly for them, the True Cross and other relics that were lost in Jerusalem in 614.

BZ64050. Bronze dekanummium, Anastasi 62; DOC II part 1, 257; Wroth BMC 410; SBCV 886; Hahn MIB 241, VF, pit (flan defect?) on reverse, weight 5.067 g, maximum diameter 10.0 mm, die axis 180^o, Sicily, Catania mint, 625 - 626 A.D.; obverse facing busts of Heraclius on left, bearded, and Heraclius Constantine on right, beardless; both crowned, draped and cuirassed; cross between their heads; reverse large I, ANNO right, X/V (year 16) right, CAT in exergue; scarce; $125.00 (�96.25)


	Dumbarton Oaks 25b, this type from the 3rd officina, is described with "perhaps Q after CON." DO notes this may indicate some connection to Thessalonica.

BZ57488. Bronze follis, apparently unpublished variant, DOC II part 1, 125 var (Q after CON listed only for 2nd officina); SBCV 811, F, weight 5.071 g, maximum diameter 22.2 mm, die axis 195^o, 1st officina, Constantinople mint, 639 - 640 A.D.; obverse Heraclius (center) in military dress, long cross in left, long beard and mustache, Heraclius Constantine (left) and Heraclonas (right) in chlamys and holding globus cruciger, all wear crown with cross; reverse large M (40 nummi), Heraclius' monogram above, A/N/N/O left, X/X/X (year 30) right, A below (1st officina), CONQ in exergue; extremely rare; $50.00 (�38.50)


	In 614, the Persian General Shahrbaraz captured and sacked Jerusalem; the Church of the Holy sepulcher was damaged by fire and the True Cross was captured.

BZ58715. Bronze half follis, DOC II part 1, 235; Wroth BMC 354; Morrison BN 4; Tolstoi 81; Ratto 1335; Hahn MIB 235; SBCV 874, gF, weight 3.725 g, maximum diameter 18.1 mm, die axis 0^o, Carthage mint, 614 - 615 A.D.; obverse D N ERACLIO PP AV, facing, bearded and crowned bust of Heraclius, globus cruciger in right; reverse large XX, pellet in center, cross above, star left, E (regnal year 5) right, KRTS in ex; scarce; $45.00 (�34.65)

Byzantine Empire, Heraclius & Heraclius Constantine, 23 January 613 - 11 January 641 A.D.

BZ55970. Bronze follis, SBCV 884; for undertype, SBCV 809 or similar, aVF, weight 5.696 g, maximum diameter 28.7 mm, Syracuse mint, obverse facing busts of long-bearded Heraclius and his son Heraclius Constantine, wearing short beard, cross above, all within large round countermark; reverse Heraclian monogram and SCs within large round countermark, with traces of M from undertype; struck on an irregular rectangular cut down flan; $30.00 (�23.10)

BB57506. Bronze 12 nummi, DOC II, part 1, 189; SBCV 853; Wroth BMC 289, Tolstoi 308; Ratto 1445; Morrisson BN 1, F, weight 5.347 g, maximum diameter 16.83 mm, die axis 180^o, Alexandria mint, c. 613 - 618 A.D.; obverse dd NN h hERAC (blundered), facing busts of Heraclius and his son Heraclius Constantine; reverse large IB (12 nummi) divided by cross potent on two steps, ALEX in ex; $22.00 (�16.94)

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REFERENCES

Grierson, P. Catalogue of the Byzantine Coins in the Dumbarton Oaks Collection and in the Whittemore Collection: Vol. 2, Part 1: Phocas and Heraclius 602-641. (Washington, D.C., 1968).
Berk, H.J. Roman Gold Coins of the Medieval World, 383 - 1453 A.D. (Joliet, IL, 1986).
Carson, R.A.G., P.V. Hill & J.P.C. Kent. Late Roman Bronze Coinage. (London, 1960).
Hahn, W. Moneta Imperii Byzantini. (Vienna, 1973-81).
Hahn, W. and M.A. Metlich. Money of the Insipient Byzantine Empire. (Vienna, 2000).
Hendy, M. Coinage and Money in the Byzantine Empire 1081-1261. (Washington D.C., 1969).
Hennequin, G. Catalogue des monnaies musulmanes de la Bibliotheque Nationale. (Paris, 1985).
Metlich, M. A. The Coinage of Ostrogothic Italy. (London, 2004).
Morrisson, C. Catalogue des Monnaies Byzantines de la Biblioth�que Nationale. (Paris, 1970).
Sear, D. R. Byzantine Coins and Their Values. (London, 1987).
Ratto, R. Monnaies Byzantines et d'autre Pays contemporaines � l'�poque byzantine. (Lugano, 1930).
Tolstoi, I. Monnaies byzantines. (St. Petersburg, 1913 - 14).
Wroth, W. Catalogue of the Imperial Byzantine Coins in the British Museum. (London, 1908).
Wroth, W. Catalogue of the Coins of the Vandals, Ostrogoths, Lombards and of the Empires of Thessalonica, Nicaea, and Trebizond in the British Museum. (London, 1911).

Catalog current as of Wednesday, May 22, 2013.
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