During the early Byzantine period the Thessalonica mint did not mint copper for Anastasius and did not mint the follis ("M", for 40-nummus) denomination for Justinian or Justin II. The most common of the early Byzantine AE from Thessalonica are half-folles with "K" (for "20") with "TES" as the mintmark. Justinian minted coins in Thessalonica with other denominations (including 4, 8, and 16, but not including 40). So, an early "M" from Thessalonica is unusual. Thessalonica minted the "M" denomination for Justin. 30-29 mm. 17.68 grams. DN IVSTINVS PP AVC Large M, stars either side and cross above, THESSOB in exergue which DOC notes "is an irrational legend since OBRYZUM cannot stand for copper. Wroth's suggestion (p. c) is most likely, that the letters have 'probably been copied mechanically form the gold coins on the predecessors of Anastasius which are inscribed THSOB, TESOB'." Sear 78. DOC I Justin 23 (3 pieces, 2 photos). MIBE 70 page 105, plate 10, same obv. die. BN I Justin Th/AE/01 (3 pieces, 1 photo)> BMC 49, plate III.11 (1 piece and 1 of the similar Sear 79 with officina number) Belgrade 203. Ratto 413. Hunter Justin 9. This type is common from one perspective and scarce from another. Right now, and for some months, there have been no similar coins on vcoins or MA-Shops. So it is scarce. On the other hand, major collections all have one or more. If you want a broad selection of Byzantine AE types, you will want, for each emperor, at least one of each denomination from each mint. Large museum collections have had many years to find one of these Justin pieces. I got mine this month. Show us a Byzantine coin from Thessalonica!
Nice one! I have one too - didn't realize how nice the style is on these until I got further into Byzantine coinage - it's like like engravers didn't get the memo that the Valentinian-Theodosian dynasty had ended and they were in the dark ages!
