In 602AD Maurice Tiberius was driven out of power in a uprising led by Phocas. Maurice was arrested and forced to watch his sons beheading. Then it was his turn to face the executioners axe. In the purges that followed his wife, followers met the same end. The eldest son Theodosius escaped the bloodbath and ended up in Carthage. There he was proclaimed Augustus and became Theodosius III/ for a very short period. There are a tiny number of nummi/ silique/ solidi known. Carthage was under Heraclius who later seized power from Phocas, and he ended up facing the headsman. Second in line would be Mezezius, who in 668AD seized power. It is thought he had Constans III whacked (with a bucket in the bathtub) His reign was shortlived, when Constantine was informed about his Dads dimise, he set sail for Constantinople. By the time he arrived, he was presented Mezezius head on a platter.... 6 AV Solidi are known. These facrs are all from ERICII, the most upto date book on the subject. John
From Wikimedia Commons: Gemini, LLC > Auction II Auction date: 11 January 2006 Lot number: 531 Price realized: 50,000 USD Note: Prices do not include buyer's fees. Lot description: Mezezius. (668-669 AD). Gold solidus (3.96 gm). Syracuse. D N MEZEZI P P [AVU], bust facing with beard and long moustache, wearing plumed helmet and cuirass, and holding globus cruciger and shield / VICTORIA AVGU E (?), cross potent on three steps, CONOB beneath. BMC (Constantine IV) 54, Pl. XXXVII. 12 (same obverse die). Berk 167. Sear 1146. MIB 9. Extremely rare: perhaps only the sixth known specimen. Slightly clipped but with the usurper's name clear and sharp. Good very fine. Constans II was assassinated in his bath at Syracuse in the summer of 668 AD. The Armenian noble Mezezius, one of the conspirators, was proclaimed emperor by the army in Sicily, but his usurpation was soon suppressed by the exarch of Ravenna. The coinage of Mezezius was recognized only in 1978, when a specimen with clear legends first came to light. Earlier examples had been attributed to Constantine IV, and are catalogued as such in almost all the standard works of reference. In DO this variety is assigned to an uncertain Balkan mint; in BMC to Carthage; and in MIB to Constantinople. Other known specimens included: 1) British Museum (BMC 54=Grierson 559); 2) Barber in Institute, Birmingham; 3) Hess-Leu (April 1963), lot 326 (perhaps the Barber Institute specimen); 4) Boham's (3 December 1980), lot 181; and 5) Sotheby's (2 November 1998), lot 286.
I wish! But, imagine the bidding war, if one ever comes on the auction block. But, funny things happen. I have three AV"unique" coins in my collection, all were under 5K. Then you see 1857-S Double Eagles from SS Central America treasure being sold for 5K-35K (MS-63/ MS-67) THERE were 119K on ship! They will ALL be salvaged, all were freshly minted, thus in MS!!!!!! Same for Byzantine Empress Irene/ lots of MS Solidi exist, yet these always hammer over 5K. The much rarer Philippicus Bardanes/ Anastasius II/ Theodosius IV go for less.
