Large size folles of Justinian I are plentiful, but high-grade examples have gotten very expensive in the last few years. I've seen Ex. Fine examples sell for over $1,000.00 ! Very choice examples of the reduced size folles struck after Justinian's War in Italy, 2nd phase, AD 541-554 are even more difficult to find. I recently scored a handsome Year 31 (AD 557-558) follis with some surface roughness & hard green deposits on the reverse. BYZANTINE EMPIRE. Justinian I, AD 527-565, Nicomedia Mint, Officina #2, Dated Year 31 (557-558). Obverse: Helmeted & cuirassed bust of Justinian holding a globus cruciger & shield decorated with a horseman spearing a fallen enemy, cross in right field. D N JVSTINIANVS PP AVG. Reverse: Large M with cross above, ANNO in left field, XXXI in right field, NIKO in exergue. AE 40 nummi: 18.43 gm, 33 mm, 6 h. Sear 201. Ex Peter J. Merani Collection, Bought from Mark E. Reid (The Time Machine), December 6, 1998. Justinian's goal of reconquering Italy was a long, bloody, & expensive series of battles. It took 35,000 troops, 300,000 pounds of gold, & very unpopular tax increases to accomplish his ambition ! It was also necessary to leave 16,000 troops garrisoned in Italy. It is no surprise that the enormous expenses of conducting wars in the Eastern Byzantine Empire, Europe & Africa, coupled with the devastating effects of the bubonic plague, that the bronze coinage shrunk in size . Pictured below is a Byzantine 40 nummi coin struck in Year 13 for comparison. BYZANTINE EMPIRE. Justinian I, AD 527-565, Constantinople Mint, Officina #2, Dated Year 13 (AD 539-540). AE 40 Nummi: 23.23 gm, 40 mm, 6 h. Sear 163. Ex Tom Cederlind. If any CT members have reduced size Justinian I folles I'd like to see them .
Not an area I collect in......But can really appreciate the OP coin...Lovely detail! Big coin too!......Nice pick up!.......Paul
That is a beautiful coin! Justinian is my favorite emperor! He was lucky he has Belisarius as his general to make his plans happen! Hard to find nice examples like that! Congratulations! I am super jealous!!
Justinian I (527 - 565 A.D.) Æ Follis O: DN ISTINI-ANVS PP AVG Helmeted and cuirassed bust of Justinian facing, holding globus cruciger and a shield. R: Large M, cross above, ANNO left, regnal year XXXI right, G ( = officina 3 ) below, THEUP in ex. Theoupolis - Antiochia 18.64g 32mm SB 220
Not sure what the cut-off is for reduced size, but I'd going to take this opportunity to show off my year 25 Antioch follis 36 mm, 19.9 gr
Here is one I found in an uncleaned lot. Not real fine. It is 30mm. I should mention that mine is year 23.
Pete, I believe your follis would fall in the reduced size range. The diameter could go either way, so the weight would be important. If the weight falls below 20.0 grams I'd say it's a reduced size follis . Never the less it's a handsome coin .
Nice! Not a follis, but a half follis from a special (military? emergency?) issue from near Salona - this half follis is only 17mm and the folles are about 25mm My smallest follis of his is from Theoupolis / Antioch, at 31mm
Mat, This is a great example of a reduced size follis ! The same year as my coin, Year 31, & the weight within .21 of a gram ! A great example from "The City of God".
Dio.Argos, This is a wonderful follis from "The City of God" ! It would take a lot of searching to top this coin .
Inspector43, This follis is definitely a reduced size coin ! Can you make out the date ? What is the weight?
Justinian issued reformed (facing bust) folles in years 12 through 39 (538/9 - 565). Constantinople only minted folles until year 37, Nicomedia through year 34, Cyzicus year 31, Antioch year 39 (the latest), and Carthage year 14. Coins with later dates are scarcer and smaller. Here is one from year 35 (561/2): 33-31 mm. 17.92 grams. Sear 163, year 35, Constantinople, officina Є. I'd like to see one with a later date.
A very informative write up. Not sure this counts, exactly, but it is a Justinian follis that is quite small: Justinian I Æ Follis (c. 540s-550s or 562-565 A.D.) Salona / Ravenna Mint (?) (Military Mint) IVSTI[NI]ANVS PP, Helmeted facing bust, holding globus cruciger and shield; cross to right / Large M; cross above, no mintmark or Officina. DOC I 358; MIBE 248; SB 329. (6.43 grams / 21 mm) "The correct attribution of this unsigned series of bronzes remains uncertain, but numerous examples have been found in the environs of Salona in Illyria...Grierson supports a date in the 540s-550s...while Hahn dates it to 562-565...the reduced size, simplified design, and scarcity of these bronzes speaks of a short-lived issue of limited circulation." CNG Auctions (several)
Not reduced but a nice example, I just loved the portrait. Hope you dont mind I share. Justinian I, 527-565. Follis (Bronze, 33 mm, 14.71 g, 7 h), Theoupolis (Antiochia), 533-537. D N IVSTINIANVS P P AVG Diademed, draped, and cuirassed bust of Justinian I to right. Rev. Large M between two stars; above, cross; below, Γ; in exergue, +THEЧP+. DOC 210c. MIB 126. SB 216. Repatinated, otherwise, good very fine.
Here's a follis, of Antioch, dated year 38. This coin was purchased as an Arab imitation, though I do consider this coin from the reign of Justinian I. The legend is quite muddled, but that seems to have been the case for the coins produced at Antioch during the last few years of his reign. Quite scarce. 19.80 grams
I read somewhere that for this ruler the copper coins are actually more expensive as his gold coins due to rarity is that true?
No, thats not true , you can get his copper coinage easily, the higher the grade the higher the price but his copper coins are not rare. I have not collected his gold but I know they would go much higher than copper.
Finn235, Those are two lovely folles ! The 1/2 follis is fascinating & the Antioch follis has an excellent profile portrait .