In the 5th century AD, the Germanic Vandals invaded and took over the western half of Roman North Africa including its capital Carthage, establishing a kingdom that would rule in the region and the surrounding islands for a century, a century that saw Carthage turn into a mortal enemy of Rome once again and futile attempts by both halves of the Roman Empire to defeat the Vandals and reestablish Roman rule in North Africa.
In 476, after the deposition of the last Western Roman emperor of the west by the barbarians, the Eastern Roman emperor legally became the ruler of all the former Western Roman Empire's lands, but this was only in name, for the various barbarian kings on former Roman lands held the true power and authority.
Romans during this era longed for the times when the Roman Empire was united and reigned supreme over the Mediterranean. One person, however, decided to try to make this a reality once again. Eastern Roman emperor Justinian made the
renovatio imperii, the "restoration of the empire", a central goal of his reign. He knew that only by using force would he be able to recover for the Roman Empire its lost western provinces, and in the process, the city of Rome itself.
Justinian began his reconquests by invading the Vandal Kingdom in North Africa, in 533. Within a year, the last Vandal king was captured and forced into retirement, and the entire region brought under Roman control again for the first time in 99 years.
The mint in Carthage continued to operate but this time began striking coins with Justinian's name and effigy, the following example being one such coin. Carthage-mint Byzantine coins in general are scarcer than their more common counterparts from more eastern mints such as Constantinople and Antioch, with some Carthage types rarer than others.
I obtained the following one for $22. There is currently one of the same type on VCoins (but different regnal year) that is in somewhat better condition being offered for $270.
Justinian I, Byzantine/Eastern Roman EmpireAE follis
Obv: D N IVSTINI-ANVS P P AVG, helemted and cuirassed bust facing, cross to right, holding cross on globe in left hand and shield in right
Rev: Large M, cross above, S below, ANNO ("year")to left, XIIII ("14") to right
Mint: Carthage (Mintmark: CAR; struck 540 AD)
Ref: SB 261
(Will update with my own photos when it arrives)
Posted 05/13/2015 5:57 pm
