2019-05-21 Tue

Tiberius II Constantine was Byzantine Emperor from 578 to 582. He succeeded in defending the empire against the Persians to the east but suffered. He served in the campaign against the Avars in the Balkans under Justin II. Justin adopted Tiberius as his son, named him Caesar on Dec. 7, 574, and crowned him emperor (Sept. 26, 578). He issued gold, silver, and copper coins in the denomination of Solidus, Follis, and Nummus. These coins were struck at various mints such as Rome, Ravenna, Antioch, Carthage, Numidia, Sicilian, Cyzicus, and Constantinople, etc.

The above shown gold Solidus was issued during his reign from Constantinople mint. The obverse of a coin depicted the legend ‘CONSTANT AUG UIU FELIX’ and portray the crowned bust wearing consular robes holding mappa and eagle-tipped scepter with a cross. The reverse of a coin depicted the legend VICTOR TI-bERI AUG, cross potent on three steps, and mintmark CONOB in exergue.

Image Source: Heritage Auctions