Justinian I (The Great) - Byzantine Empire. AD527 -565. AV Solidus. Constantinople mint. 20mm 4.47g. Obv: D N Ivstinianvs P P AVG. Justinian crowned holding globus crucible. Reverse: Victoria AVCCC CONOB Angel holding staff with globus crucible and star. Perhaps one of Byzantium's greatest emperors. His reign saw the expansion of the empire at its zenith temporarily reclaiming Rome after the fall of the Western Roman Empire. Unfortunately the Justinian plague checked his expansion and after his death, the Byzantine empire never regained its former glory.
Just the Western Roman Empire (as someone who is an enthusiast of this era I couldn't help being picky, sorry!).
Nice coin! I knew I had to have a coin of his since he had such an impact on the western world.The Justinian code which reorganized the laws of the empire is just one significant contribution. Here is mine
I should get a solidus of Justinian! They rarely come at bargain prices though... My Justinian follis was issued in the year of the plague. Here are my notes on the year of issue: Minted 541/2 (regnal year 15: In 541, the last official appointment to the consulship was made, given to Anicius Faustus Albinus Basilius (without a colleague). After this date, the office of consul was merged with that of being emperor (and the practice of naming the year by the consuls was dropped). In 541, war with the Persians begins ("Lazic War", vs. Khusru I). Justinian recalls Belisarius from Italy (541) to fight in Armenia, and the following year the Goths under Totila wreak devastation on the Byzantines in Italy. 541/2 was the year of the first recorded epidemic of (possibly) bubonic plague, of comparable devastation to the Black Death in the 14th century. Up to one quarter of the human population around the eastern Mediterranean died, and possibly as many as 25 million worldwide. Justinian himself contracted the disease, but recovered.
A superb coin, and quite surprising coming from you. I didn't know you were into western coins. I have to say, I'm personally not a fan of gold. Even the gold jewelry I have is white gold, as I don't like yellow (I don't know why, but I've personally never been a fan of the color yellow). But if I were to buy one gold coin, Justinian would definitely be my exception. I love that Emperor, so when I get ready to finally get a coin of his I might make an exception to my general dislike of yellow and go for the gold. I think he is a special enough emperor for me to take the plunge for gold and overcome my personal quirks.
Thanks.. I only have 1 Byzantine Gold and I chose him. The earlier pieces are of good quality.. layer pieces are more debased and poorly struck
Almost forgot, here's my soldius of Justinian: Justinian I, Byzantine Empire AV solidus Obv: D N IVSTINI-ANVS P P AVG, helmeted, cuirassed bust facing, holding cross on globe and shield Rev: VICTORI-A AVGGG delta, angel standing facing, holding P-headed cross and cross on globe, star in right field Mint: Constantinople Mintmark: CONOB Date: 542-565 AD Ref: SB 140 And this half-follis wouldn't have been possible without Justinian's quest for renovatio imperii ("restoration of the empire"): Justinian I, Byzantine Empire AE half-follis Obv: D N IVSTI-NIANVS P P AVG, diademed, draped, and cuirassed bust right Rev: Large K, star to left, cross to right, all within wreath Mint: Rome Date: 537-542 AD Ref: SB 301
Nice ... Wow, Loong-S => man, that's an awesome OP-Justinian-I Ummm, my example may not be made of gold, but there may be a few gold specs in 'er? congrats again on scoring that sweet OP-winner
His official historian Procopius says He was a monster who killed a trillion people + is to blame for plagues, earthquakes etc https://sourcebooks.fordham.edu/basis/procop-anec.asp "When there was nothing left to ruin in the Roman state, he determined the conquest of Libya and Italy, for no other reason than to destroy the people there, as he had those who were already his subjects." "That Justinian was not a man, but a demon, as I have said, in human form, one might prove by considering the enormity of the evils he brought upon mankind. For in the monstrousness of his actions the power of a fiend is manifest. Certainly an accurate reckoning of all those whom he destroyed would be impossible, I think, for anyone but God to make. Sooner could one number, I fancy, the sands of the sea than the men this Emperor murdered. Examining the countries that he made desolate of inhabitants, I would say he slew a trillion people. For Libya, vast as it is, he so devastated that you would have to go a long way to find a single man, and he would be remarkable. Yet eighty thousand Vandals capable of bearing arms had dwelt there, and as for their wives and children and servants, who could guess their number? Yet still more numerous than these were the Mauretanians, who with their wives and children were all exterminated. And again, many Roman soldiers and those who followed them to Constantinople, the earth now covers; so that if one should venture to say that five million men perished in Libya alone, he would not, I imagine, be telling the half of it." I have 2 coins of him, supposedly he looked like Domitian "Now in physique he was neither tall nor short, but of average height; not thin, but moderately plump; his face was round, and not bad looking, for he had good color, even when he fasted for two days. To make a long description short, he much resembled Domitian, Vespasian's son."
Justinian was an interesting character, good and bad. One of his accomplishments was the codification and standardization of Roman law. Quite interested. Once upon a time I was into book collecting and had a 16th Century copy of it. Wish I had kept it! Oh, the only Byzantine coin in my collection, below. Why? Dont know, its fairly ugly. Oh yea, it was a gift from my brother. Very low on my list is to replace it (or accompany) with a nice large module Follis in EF. They arent hard to find, $100-200 or so, but I just havent been looking. Justinian I, 527 – 565 AD Æ Follis, 35mm Theoupolis (Antioch) Mint, 19.65 grams Obverse: D N IVSTINIANVS PP AVG, Helmeted and cuirassed bust of Justinian facing holding globus cruciger and shield, cross to right. Reverse: Large M, ANNO to left, XXЧ to right, cross above G below, THЧΠ’ in exergue.
Apart from the solidus I also have a follis of Justinian. His follis is huge and pretty common. Perhaps as a show of his prestige, his to my knowledge were the largest follis issued in Byzantine history.
Great Score @Loong Siew !!! Byzantine Empire Anatolia, Nikomedia Justinian (r. AD 527 - 565) AE Large Module Follis (40 nummi) 43 mm x 23.78 grams Obverse:Helmeted and cuirassed facing bust, holding globus cruciger and shield; cross to right - DNIVSTINI ANVS PP AVC Reverse: Large M; cross above, date across field; ANNO left field, X/II/I right field - NIK in ex. Ref: SB 201 Note: Dated yr. 13 (AD 539/40), Large planchet. Superb. Gorgeous perfect Green patina, slight doubling of the "M"
