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Home ▸ Catalog ▸ |Judean & Biblical Coins| ▸ |Biblical Coins| ▸ |In This Sign...||View Options:   | | | The Roman, Byzantine, crusader and other coins below carry the symbols of Christ. In 312 A.D., Constantine dreamed he saw a Chi Rho Christogram in the sky and heard the words IN HOC SIGNO ERIS, meaning "In this sign you will be the victor." He ordered the sign of Christ on his legions' standards and shields. He won a great victory and later became the first Christian Roman Emperor. Click here to read Christian Themes in |Byzantine| Coinage by Zach Margulies. |
The Christogram (also called a Monogramma Christi or Chrismon) is a ligature of Chi (X) and Rho (P), the first two letters of Christ in Greek. It was among the earliest symbols of Christianity. The crucifix was rarely used in early Christian iconography, perhaps because most people then had personally witnessed its gruesome use for public execution.RL110194. Bronze centenionalis, Hunter V 4 (also 3rd officina), RIC X Arcadius 104 (S), LRBC II 2800, DOCLR 288, SRCV V 20895, VF, dark green patina, earthen encrustation, weight 3.216 g, maximum diameter 16.5 mm, die axis 135o, 3rd officina, Antioch (Antakya, Turkey) mint, 401 - 403 A.D.; obverse AEL EVDOXIA AVG, diademed and draped bust right with hand of God holding wreath over her head; reverse SALVS REIPVBLICAE (health of the Republic), Victory seated right on cuirass, inscribing Christogram on shield resting on cippus, ANTΓ in exergue; scarce; $70.00 (€65.80)
Valens, 28 March 364 - 9 August 378 A.D.
On 28 March 364, Valens, brother of Valentinian I, was appointed co-emperor (Augustus) in the palace of Hebdomon (Turkey). He soon began the first anti-pagan persecutions.RL112548. Bronze centenionalis, RIC IX Alexandria 1b, Cohen VIII 11, LRBC II 2858, SRCV V 19763, Hunter V 69, Fine, centered, earthen deposits, weight 2.599 g, maximum diameter 18.2 mm, die axis 0o, Alexandria mint, 28 Mar 364 - 24 Aug 367 A.D.; obverse D N VALENS P F AVG, pearl-diademed, draped, and cuirassed bust right; reverse GLORIA ROMANORVM (glory of the Romans), Valens advancing right, labarum (chi-rho standard) in left, dragging captive with right, ALE[..] in exergue; ex Numismatik Naumann auction 129 (4 Jun 2023), lot 1002 (part of); $40.00 (€37.60)
Anthemius, 12 April 467 - 11 July 472
During the reign of Anthemius, dies were sometimes shared between the mints at Rome, Milan and Ravenna. This variant of an extremely rare type minted at Milan appears to have a re-engraved mint mark. The only other known example of this variant is in the Dumbarton Oaks Collection.SH01632. Gold solidus, RIC X 2887, Lacam 93, VF, weight 4.37 g, maximum diameter 22.1 mm, die axis 0o, Mediolanum (Milan, Italy) mint, late 467 - 472 A.D.; obverse D N ANTHEMIVS P F AVG, helmeted bust facing, pearl-diademed, cuirassed, spear in right over shoulder, shield on left arm decorated with horseman riding down enemy; reverse SALVS REIPVBLICAE (health of the Republic), Anthemius and Leo, nimbate, standing front, each holds a spear and together they hold a cross on a globe, MD in center, COMOB in exergue; cross graffiti in obverse right field; extremely rare (R4); SOLD
Verina, Augusta, 7 February 457 - 484 A.D., Wife of Leo I
Verina was the highly ambitious and capable wife of Emperor Leo I. After the death of her husband she continued to exercise great influence in the governing of the Empire. She was responsible for inciting two failed rebellions against Zeno, first by her brother Basiliscus in 475 - 476 A.D and then by Leontius in 484 - 488 A.D. She died at the fortress of Cherris in 484 A.D.SH06901. Gold tremissis, RIC X 614, SBCV 4344, gVF, weight 1.47 g, maximum diameter 14.8 mm, Constantinople (Istanbul, Turkey) mint, obverse AEL VERINA AVG, diademed, draped bust right; reverse cross in wreath, CONOB in exergue; ex Harlan Berk; very rare (R2); SOLD
Honorius, 23 January 393 - 15 August 423 A.D.
Thessalonica was founded around 315 B.C. by Cassander, King of Macedonia, on or near the site of the ancient town of Therma. He named it after his wife Thessalonike, a daughter of Philip II and a half-sister of Alexander the Great. In 168 B.C. it became the capital of Macedonia Secunda and in 146 B.C. it was made the capital of the whole Roman province of Macedonia. Due to its port and location at the intersection of two major Roman roads, Thessalonica grew to become the most important city in Macedonia. Thessalonica was important in the spread of Christianity; the First Epistle to the Thessalonians written by Paul the Apostle is the first written book of the New Testament.SH53618. Gold solidus, RIC X Arcadius 38 (R2); Depeyrot p. 225, 44/2; DOCLR 756; SRCV V 20900, gVF, weight 4.379 g, maximum diameter 20.7 mm, die axis 180o, Thessalonica (Salonika, Greece) mint, 397 - 402 A.D.; obverse D N HONORIVS P F AVG, helmeted bust facing, diademed, cuirassed, cross on breast plate, spear in right over right shoulder behind head, shield decorated with horseman on left arm; reverse CONCORDIA AVGG (harmony between the two emperors), Constantinopolis enthroned facing, head right, holding long scepter and Victory on globe, foot on prow, COMOB in exergue; very rare; SOLD
Byzantine Empire, Maurice Tiberius, 13 August 582 - 22 November 602 A.D.
Most references attribute this type to Antioch. Although this type is not listed in DOC I, Grierson attributes all solidi with this wide-faced portrait to Antioch. Hahn attributes the type to Constantinople.SH90884. Gold light weight solidus, 20 siliquae; SBCV 531, Hahn MIB 14, Sommer 7.61, Adelson 88 - 89 corr. (rho-cross scepter), DOC I -, Wroth BMC -, Morrisson BnF -, Tolstoi -, Ratto -, gVF, uneven strike, tight flan, weight 3.390 g, maximum diameter 20.7 mm, die axis 180o, 10th officina, Constantinopolis or Antioch mint, 583 - 602 A.D.; obverse D N MAVRIC - TIb P P AVG, helmeted, draped, and cuirassed bust facing, globus cruciger in right hand, shield in left, helmet with arc ornament in front and plume; reverse VICTORIA AVGG I (victory of the two emperors, 10th officina), angel standing facing, long cross in right hand, globus cruciger in left hand, OBXX in exergue; Forum knows of only seven other examples of this extremely rare type, from the Robert Watcher Collection; extremely rare; SOLD
Byzantine Empire, Anastasius II Artemius, 3 June 713 - November 715
Anastasius II was originally named Artemius and was an imperial secretary. After the Opsician army in Thrace had overthrown Philippicus, they acclaimed Artemius as Emperor. He chose Anastasius as his regnal name. Soon after, Anastasius II executed the officers who were directly involved in the conspiracy against Philippicus. As the advancing Umayyad Caliphate surrounded the Empire, after diplomacy failed, he undertook the restoration of Constantinople's walls and the rebuilding of the Roman fleet. The death of the Caliph al-Walid I in 715 gave Anastasius an opportunity to turn the tables. He dispatched an army under Leo the Isaurian, afterwards emperor, to invade Syria, and he had his fleet concentrate on Rhodes with orders not only to resist the approach of the enemy but to destroy their naval stores. These troops of the Opsician theme, resenting the Emperor's strict measures, mutinied, slew the admiral John, and proclaimed as emperor Theodosius III, a tax-collector of low extraction. After a six-month siege, Constantinople was taken by Theodosius. Anastasius, who had fled to Nicaea, was eventually compelled to retire to a monastery in Thessalonica. In 719, Anastasius headed a revolt against Leo III, who had succeeded Theodosius. The attempt failed and Anastasius was put to death.SH86351. Gold solidus, Füeg Nomismata 2.F.3 (same rev. die), Morrisson BnF 20/Cp/AV/2, DOC II- 2e (not in coll. refs. W.), Wroth BMC 4, Hahn MIB 2, Sommer 19.1, SBCV 1463, gVF, areas not fully struck, tight flan and reverse slightly off center cutting off tops of some legend, bumps and marks, weight 4.318 g, maximum diameter 19.8 mm, die axis 180o, 6th officina, Constantinople (Istanbul, Turkey) mint, 3 Jun 713- Nov 715; obverse d N APTEMIVS ANASTASIVS MVLA, facing crowned and draped bust, globus cruciger in left hand, akakia in right hand; reverse VICTORIA AVSV S, cross potent, on base and three steps, CONOB in exergue; ex Gorny & Mosch auction 196 (7 March 2011), lot 3134 (misattributed); scarce emperor; SOLD
Valentinian III, 23 October 425 - 16 March 455 A.D.
Struck at Ravenna where the late western emperors' made their capital.SH28125. Gold solidus, RIC X Valentinian III 2018, Cohen VIII 19, SRCV 4310, EF, weight 4.425 g, maximum diameter 22.0 mm, Ravenna mint, c. 430 - 455 A.D.; obverse D N PLA VALENTI-NIANVS P F AVG, rosette-diademed, draped, and cuirassed bust right; reverse VICTORIA AVGGG (victory of the three emperors), Valentinian standing facing, foot on the head of a man-faced snake with closed coil, holding long cross and Victory on globe, R left, V right, COMOB in exergue; slightly double-struck, a couple very small light scratches; SOLD
Marcian, 24 August 450 - 31 January 457 A.D.
| The Column of Marcian was dedicated to Marcian, built by the praefectus urbi Tatianus, sometime between 450 and 452. It still stands in modern Istanbul, though the statue of Marcian which originally topped it has been lost. Marcian also had a statue in the Forum of Arcadius, which contained the statues of several of Arcadius' successors. |  |
Marcian, 24 August 450 - 31 January 457 A.D.
In 450, Vardan II Mamikonian, who was leading a revolt against the Sassanian Empire, sent an embassy to Theodosius to ask for assistance. This was favored by Theodosius but these plans were dropped by Marcian. Later, c. 456, Marcian risked the anger of the Sassanids to strike against Gubazes I, the king of Lazica, which was nominally a vassal Roman state, who was attempting to form an alliance with the Sassanians to break free of Roman control. Marcian launched a military campaign against him in 456, forcing him to abdicate.SH14768. Gold solidus, DOCLR 481 (also 7th officina), Ratto 217, RIC X Marcian 510, Hahn MIB 5, SRCV V 21379, Choice EF, weight 4.491 g, maximum diameter 20.6 mm, die axis 180o, 7th officina, Constantinople (Istanbul, Turkey) mint, c. 450 A.D.; obverse D N MARCIA-NVS P F AVG, diademed, helmeted and cuirassed bust facing, holding spear and shield, diadem with large jewel and three pearls, shield decorated with horseman spearing a fallen enemy; reverse VICTORIA AVGGG Z (victory of the three emperors, 7th officina), Victory standing left holding a long jeweled cross, star in right field, CONOB in exergue; scarce; SOLD
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