Maurice Tiberius Solidus

I bought this coin way back in the day and posted it on a coin forum, it subsequently got like 2 responses( myself and the mod). So I thought I would show it off here!


Maurice Tiberius is one of history's more tragic hero's.
He was a successful general under Tiberius II (Constantine) and won many battles against the sassanid persians. He married Tiberius's daughter Constantina and shortly after became Emperor on 13 August 582.
His reign saw the consolidation of the Western provinces under a local ruler called an Excharch. For the first time in almost 20 years the Eastern Roman Empire had time to consolidate its holdings and go on the offensive.

After years of successful, but non stop combat against the sassanids, Maurice was able to finally bring the decades long war to an end by supporting the legitimate persian king against a usurper. The following treaty greatly expanded Roman rule in the middle east and allowed Maurice to deal with the crumbling west.

Maurice promptly turned his army west and began campaigning against the avars, a powerful nomadic tribe who had been encroaching on the Danube for many years.
Under Maurice's brother Peter, the Eastern army won many decisive battles against the avars and slavs. They even sacked and razed settlements deep in the tribes respective territory.

Alas all was not good. The wars of Justinian and Justin II had cost the empire much money. The Empire of Justinian could be maintained, but it was costing every last nummis.
Tiberius II had raised over 15,000 troops to combat the persians, unfortunately this extra load on the coffers forced Maurice to cut as many corners as possible. In 602 Maurice ordered the field armies to spend the winter encamped on the far side of the Danube. The troops revolted and proclaimed Focas, a junior army officer, Emperor.

Not long after, Maurice was killed along with his six sons, but not before he had to watch each of them be beheaded in front of his very eyes. Their bodies were thrown into the sea and their heads were put on pikes for all to see in Constantinople.

And so begins the decline and fall of the Eastern Roman Empire.

It is unfortunate that many people simply gloss over Maurice's reign, had he not been killed it is very likely that he would have destroyed to lombards in Italy, thus altering world history as we know it.

It's characters like Maurice that inspire me and that make me think twice whenever I am dealt a cruel hand. This man fought long and hard for over twenty years to keep his civilization from collapsing, and that is truly a noble endeavour.
Ave Caesar!

Maurice Tiberius AV light weight Solidus
4.12 Grams






Please post your coins of Maurice or any of your gold coins.
Cheers

 

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Sooner or later I will buy one of these. MT is cool, Khusro II really didn't like Phocus.

You asked for a gold coin...this is the one I got right now...

20 mm x 4.36 grams AV Kahavanu

 

That's a very nice Maurice with very good detail. Sorry to say I do not have many coins from this period as I have concentrated on the Republic and early Empire (Roman that is).

Glad you insist on posting our gold coins so I have another opportunity to post my first and only:

VALENS
AV Solidus
OBVERSE: DN VALENS PER F AVG, pearl-diademed, draped & cuirassed bust right
REVERSE: RESTITVTOR REIPUBLICAE, Valens standing right, holding labarum in right hand & Victory on globe in left, cross to left. Mintmark star ANTE star
Struck at Antioch, 364 AD
3.6g, 19mm
Antioch RIC 2d,xxxvii-5

 

Nice coins my collecting pals!

 

Bing, is your coin clipped?

 

Wonderful coin and superlative narrative----I always love how a well written and interesting historical synopsis can tie a coin and the times together so beautifully!!!

I have one gold coin (tremisses) of Heraclius and a bronze follis (AE-40 Nummi?) of Maurice Tiberius:

 

I love that tremissis and follis, MZ!
Those are two great Emperors on those coins!

 

Phocas

Maurice really didn't like Phocas.

 

I wonder why?

Great coin Mr Doug!

 

Maurice follis of Antioch year 17

An interesting thing to me is the large variety of legends used by Maurice. Mine is easy to ID compared to some.

 

Thanks for a GREAT history behind this piece which is splendid!......

 

Wow! I need to get me some of these one day. I would kill to own one of those rare Carthage or Italian mint Siliqua of his.
Here is one of his father in law.
It can be yours for only $980

 

Dr Barker, from whom I bought this coin suggested that it was clipped as the weight is on the light side.

 

@Bing I thought it might be. It may be clipped but it is still an amazing coin that I would love to have in my collection!

Many thanks Swamp Yank!

 

Hey, I thought Mrs. Bing promised it to me!!!

 

Nice, I have my first gold coin ( a solidus) being shipped to me right now as well.

 

Oh boy! I can't wait to see this! Make sure you post it!

 

Great!!!!!!

I can't wait to see it!

 

Great read, thanks!! The gold coins are all awesome.

 

Thanks Shernan!
I am indebted to the entire Coin Talk family for letting me show you guys these coins and babble about them!