Ancient coins of revolt - a follis of Heraclius, from Alexandretta, 608-610 AD, the Heraclian Revolt

It cannot be said, with credulity, that Phocas was a benign emperor. His murder of Maurice Tiberius in 602 AD was the best way to start his rule. A general atmosphere simmering of terror prevailed, and fear of purges put the army in a state of unrest. News that the Sassanian king Khosrow was planning an invasion to avenge the death of Maurice Tiberius (at least that was the excuse) set the stage for a revolt in the west, specifically northern Africa and Egypt.

It is from that region, remote from Constantinople, and the main source of wheat, as it was centuries before, that Heraclius the Elder and his son imitated the revolt in 608 AD, when Heraclius the Elder declared both himself and his son consuls, thereby laying claim to the crown of the empire. The revolt gained widespread support throughout Egypt and the central Mediterranean. The forces of the rebels attacked by land and sea, from North Africa. By 610 Heraclius the Younger entered Constantinople, executed Phocas, establishing the Heraclian Dynasty.

Before the execution of Phocas, he and Heraclius had this exchange:

“Is it thus,” asked Heraclius, “that you have governed the Empire?”

“Will you,” replied Phocas, ”govern it any better?” (Norwich, 282)

The elder Heraclius died shortly after the conclusion of the revolt, with Heraclius the Younger succeeding as emperor. In 613 his son, Heraclius Constantine, ascended to rule with his father as co-emperor.

The coin that I am posting came from Harlan Berk back in the late 80's. It is a follis from Alexandretta, a city located in what is now southeastern Turkey, on the Mediterranean coast, founded by Alexander III in 333 BC to replace the Phoenician port of Myriandus as the entry point for the Syrian Gates.

Revolt of The Heraclii, AD 608-610
AE follis
Alexandretta
Obverse: OMN ERACLIO CONSULII, facing busts of Heraclius on left and his father, the Exarch Heraclius, on right, both bearded, bare-headed, and wearing consular robes, cross between their heads.
Reverse: Large M between ANNO and numerals representing the indictional year; above cross with A beneath; AΛEXANΔ in exergue.
MIB 16a. Sear 722. Berk 534. DO 16

10.62 grams




Please post your coins of revolt, revolution, or anything else of a revolting nature!

Thanks

 

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That is beautiful! I don't have anything from that time period but here is a coin from year 2 of the First Jewish Revolt.

Firs Jewish Revolt
Year 2 (67/68 AD)
Prutah
Obverse: Amphora with broad rim, two handles, and lid decorated with tiny globes hanging around edge; around, year two
Reverse: Vine leaf on small branch, surrounded by Hebrew (the freedom of Zion)

 

Very nice! I like the earthen deposits set against the dark brown patina.

 

How splendid! What a lovely example of a rare type which has eluded me.

I recently listened to an episode of the engrossing podcast, a History of Byzantium, entitled 'In Fairness to Phocas.' A chance posting by another forum member turned me on to this most excellent podcast.



From the Forum description: Silver denarius, Crawford 519/2, Sydenham 1177, RSC I Domitia 21, F, well centered, Uncertain Adriatic or Ionian mint, weight 3.546g, maximum diameter 18.4mm, die axis 270o, 41 - 40 B.C.; obverse AHENOBAR, bare head of Ahenobarbus right; reverse CN DOMITIVS IMP, trophy on prow right;

I would assume a pirate would count. I myself am related to Revolutionary War and Confederate generals.

I picked this one up on the cheap, a decade ago.

 

Interesting coin! Was it issued during an uprising against Rome? Its fabric, although crude, seems to be imitating a denarius of that time.

As for Phocas, yes, he's probably gotten the short end of the stick in terms of historical accounts, but his reign was certainly turbulent and bloody. I guess he had a lousy PR agent, should have fired him a long time ago! This reminds me of the controversy surrounding Richard III and the bad press he received, with the help of Shakespeare.

I all take a listen to the podcast.

Thanks

 

Ahenobarbus was a leftover from Brutus' crew, setting up a short-lived pirate state, and later going over to Marc Antony.

The figure of Senior on your coin is very endearing.

 

First Jewish Revolt, 1/8 shekel, year 4, 69/70 AD

5.2 grams





First Jewish Revolt, shekel, year 2, 67–68 AD

13.7 grams





Bar Kochba Revolt, shekel no date, attributed to year 3 (134-135 AD)

 

It is a great podcast. After finishing "History of Rome", I felt myself jonesing for more Roman history. What better way to do that then to pick up where it left off? I'm currently up-to-date on the episodes and it is just wrapping up Manuel Comnenus.

 

German dealer's description: Denarius 42 BC, Military mint. 2,97 g. Laureate head of Apollo right LEG COSTA / IMP BRVTVS Trophy with shield and spears. Cr.506/2; Syd.1287, fine to very fine, filled hole

Here is a somewhat decrepit example of the ultimate rebel, Marcus Junius Brutus.

Do you specialize in Byzantine coins, robinjojo?

I've always been interested in the coinage of Phocas. I'm wondering the XXXX was some kind of political statement? Phocas' portraiture was also somewhat more realistic than other Byzantine monarchs.

 

I do have quite a few bronze Byzantine coins, acquired recently and in years past, many of them pleading to be researched and properly labeled. It's a slow work in progress for me.

I am not sure about the unique XXXX that Phocas used for most of his folles. I always thought of this format was merely another way to express the value of 40 nummi. Antioch seems to have stuck with the traditional "M".

Year 8, 609-610 AD



Edit: It occurred to me, while I was outside trying to keep things alive with some watering, that Phocas was not the first emperor to use the "X" format for the larger denominations on the reverse of the bronze coinage. Tiberius II Constantine also used this designation for some of his bronze coinage.

Here is a 30 nummi of his from Cyzicus:

 

My coin photography is revolting. So is the preservation of the coin. Does that count? Didia Clara's dad also bought the Empire. What was he thinking? Did he think that the other legions would follow him?
Anyway, DJ produced one of my all-time favorite types, RECTOR ORBIS.

 

It certainly does! Thanks for posting.

 

Very nice! I've never attempted to acquire a Heraclian revolt coin, but I think they're fascinating. I really find it interesting that they portrayed themselves bare-headed because, of course, they weren't yet coronated or confirmed or whatever the Byzantine rulers called it. That's devotion to a principle!

I do have several Heraclian Hexagrams, but they're later:


Any of my revolt coins that come to mind would be Roman Republican Civil Wars (Sulla, Caesar, Brutus, Augustus, etc.). Can we call the Roman Civil War between Brutus & Cassius and Octavian & Antony a revolt?

I happen to be a believer that the first Koson coinage with monogram is most likely associated with Brutus & Cassius' campaign (based on the metallurgical studies).

Here's my Koson Drachm and Stater:

 

@robinjojo, your top follis can't not remind me of examples of Maurice Tiberius, of which I used to have one. How likely would it be that in the case of yours, dies of Maurice were used, with only the legends scraped off and reengraved?
Of course, there's plenty of precedent for this kind of thing, but I can't remember running into anything like it as of 7th-c. Byzantine.

 

It's possible. Phocas is wearing a consular robe on the obverse of the Antioch follis very much in the same style of Maurice Tiberius.

Here's a follis on VCoins with Maurice Tiberius in a consular robe, year 7:



There are similarities and differences when comparing the two coins, notably with the style of the "M" on the reverse. But I think that your suggestion of changing the obverse legend for Phocas could be true. It's kind of hard to say, since the engraver who created the die for the Phocas follis might have been the same individual, or someone who was trained to create the same feature of the robe and profile. Given the crude nature of so many of these coins, analyzing them can be challenging, and of course fun.

 

This follis is much like robinjojo's specimen. Same obverse die, different reverse die but same double strike.

 

That's a very attractive coin with very nice patina and a beautiful, bold strike for this type!

 

Our obverse die linked specimens are very close to each other.
I bought mine... in a gas station in the outskirts of Amman, Jordan. I had my car refuelled and went to the little office to pay when I noticed just next to the cash a small display with a few ancient coins for sale. The man saw I was interested and told me I should buy that one, because it was rare. I do not remember exactly how much he wanted, but it was very affordable and I could not resist. I don't know what these coins were doing in a gas station!

 

robinjojo, Your 40 nummi coin & the example posted by GinoLR are valuable rarities . Pictured below are a couple of coins I've posted a number of time but fit well in your thread . The solidus of Heraclius & son is believed to be struck by a mobile mint moving with Heraclius to fight on the Eastern front. I bought the coin in an ICG slab when it was originally thought to be a product of the Jerusalem mint.

 

MERCENARY WAR 241-238 BCE -
Carthage Mercenary Troops REBEL against Carthage

A NASTY war, even by Ancient standards...

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mercenary_War

Between Carthage and Libya

Carthage-LIBYAN UPRISING - Mercenaries issue
Mercenary War 241-238 BCE
7.36g AR DiShekel
Herakles Head in Lion's Head-
Lion walking; Punic M above; LIBYA below
R SNG Cop 240f
Overstrike
Coins were struck in the name of Libya and "M", which has been taken as either "machanat" - the Camp (of the mercenaries), or perhaps Matho, their leader.

Sardinia

Carthage - LIBYAN REVOLT Rebels 241-238 BCE 9.63g 24mm Shekel Sardinia mint Tanit 3 Grain ears Crescent SNG Cop 247