Coin from Byzantine Italy - Justinian I

After the Byzantine-started Gothic Wars ravaged Italy and wiped out the Ostrogothic Kingdom, the Byzantines made the previously Roman and Ostrogothic capital Ravenna (captured in 540 AD) the main seat of their administration on the peninsula, which was now wholly in their hands (a situation that was to change very soon afterwards with the arrival of a less-than-civilized tribe, the Lombards). It didn't take the Byzantines very long after their conquest to start to strike their own Italian-mint coins. My latest acquisition is a Justinian I decanummium (10 nummi) struck in Ravenna in regnal year 37 (564AD, the second-to-last year of Justinian's long reign, which saw the near-restoration of the western part of the old Roman Empire). This coin was one of many reminders to the populace that the Romans had taken back the homeland and former heart of their empire.

Justinian I, AE decanummium (struck 564 AD)
Obv: DN IVSTINIANVS PP AVG, helmeted and cuirassed bust facing, holding cross on globe and shield
Rev: Large I, ANNO (year) in left field, XXXVII (37) in three lines in right field, Ravenna mint
SB 326, 15 mm


(seller's photo)


Byzantine Empire at it's largest extent, during Justinian I's reign (Wikipedia):

 

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Nice coin man. I am in the middle of trying to get my last coin for a while, and it is Byzantine Italy. Everyone needs one of these types of coins. There is a lot of history there. Imagine how the world might have been different had the west been able to sustain itself like it did in antiquity. Food for thought. Again Great coin, one of my favorites you have posted!

 

Jango => Thank God!! ... I was getting tired of posting those dang statue coins!! (I owe ya one!!)





Very cool coin => oh, and great info!! (thanks)

 

Great Coin VK!

 

Another interesting coin WC

 

Bing => ya got the wrong "young dude" ...

 

Wish that was my coin Bing

 

ooh, sorry about that. Nice goin VK (now give it to WC)

 

Thanks guys for the comments!

As I am very into this era, I am always wondering how things could have turned out if the West held on. Instead of Valentinian III, or any of those do-nothing emperors that Ricimer propped up on the throne (except for Majorian - I think Aetius's spirit went into that guy!), the West really needed another Julius Caesar or someone else like him to turn things around.

Buy me a coin of my choice and I'll call it even

Thanks but I talked to the coin (I'm a coin whisperer ya know ) aaanndd he says he wants to stay, sooo...

 

oh man, that's very cool....i've got to get a decanummium...i'm hankerin' a nice big I on one of my byzantines!

 

Then you could say you would be worth, "at least one Iota"