Maurice, Gold, Solidus, Alexandria?, 582-602
Obverse
Frontal bust of Maurice wearing plumed helmet. Globus cruciger in right hand.
DNAVRI-TIPPAVI
Reverse
Angel standing and holding a long staff with staurogram () on top in right hand and globus cruciger in left hand.
VICTORI-VCCE
Exergue
CONOB
Obverse
Frontal bust of Maurice wearing plumed helmet. Globus cruciger in right hand.
DNAVRI-TIPPAVI
Reverse
Angel standing and holding a long staff with staurogram () on top in right hand and globus cruciger in left hand.
VICTORI-VCCE
Exergue
CONOB
| Accession number | BZC.2005.28 |
|---|---|
| Ruler | Maurice |
| Date of Reign | 582–602 |
| Metal | Gold |
| Denomination | Solidus |
| Mint | Alexandria? |
| Date | 582 – 602 |
| Diameter | 20.0 mm |
| Weight | 4.36 g |
| Relation of Dies | 6:00 |
| Shape | Flat |
Acquisition History
From A.H. Baldwin's Selection, Byzantine List no. 45, October 2005, no. 9
Commentary
The previous attribution to Sicily of this type of solidi has been reconsidered in the light of their presence in sizeable proportion (12 specimens vs. 60 of Constantinople) in the “Rafah hoard,” which Hahn reconstructed from several parcels that appeared on the international and Jerusalem market in 1994–95. Hahn concludes: “An Alexandrian origin should be envisaged, especially as they can be linked with the Justin II solidi by intermediary coins of Tiberius II, which are also present in some of our parcels. . . . These Palestinian findings seem to justify a correction of the mint attribution, and also allow us to reconstruct the sequence of issues as belonging to an accepted Alexandrian branch mint of the moneta auri from Justin II to Maurice consisting of [sic] solidi (24 carats), reduced solidi (20 carats), semisses (12 carats) and tremisses (8 carats)”; see Hahn, “Byzantine Gold Coins of Tiberius II and Maurice (578–602) of Uncertain Mint Attribution in the Light of Palestinian Hoard Evidence,” 98.
MIB 2:110, no. 28.3 (Sicily).
MIBEC 135, no. 28 (Alexandria).