This is another example of "good enough for the type" since it emerged from that murky time between the late 7th and early 8th centuries, when the Byzantine empire experienced some disruptions. Tiberius III ruled between the two non-consecutive reigns of Justinian II. In the end, everyone involved had their noses and tongues slit, a few even became footstools, and nastiness seemed to prevail overall. Lovely. The coins of the era seem to reflect some of this chaos. Tiberius III Apsimar (698-705, struck 698-702), Æ Follis, Syracuse, Obv: no legend, crowned and cuirassed facing bust, holding spear and shield; star to left; Rev: Large M, monogram above (Sear Monogram #42), palm fronds flanking, SCL in exergue; 15-19mm, 2.4g; DOC 32, MIB 79, Anastasi 337, Sear 1395
Yes, this arguably qualifies as a nicer specimen of the type. Many of the coins from roughly the first reign of Justinian II (685 - 695) to roughly Leo III (beginning 717) generally display crudity beyond the standards of Byzantines from other eras. Some call this violent and unstable era the "20 years anarchy" when one usurper followed another, often in quick succession. It included lots of mutilations, violent deaths, uprisings, wars, revenge, counter-revenge, and so on. It's a morbidly fascinating era.
