Walking Back In Time From 1600 To Antiquity By Decades (V2.0)

One of Justin II & Sophia.

Justin II & Sophia. Decanumnium. Theoupolis (Antioch). 576- 577 AD.
Obverse: Justin at left, Sophia at right, seated facing on double-throne, both nimbate, each holding long sceptre (sometimes topped by a cross) holding globe surmounted by a large cross between them. Obverse Inscription: IVSTINVt AC. Reverse: Large I , ANNO in left field, cross above, XII in right field and THEUP in exergue. Bronze. Diameter: 17 mm. Weight: 3 gr.
Sear #: 383. MIB 63.

And just to mix things up a bit by moving away from the Byzantines, here is a Drachm of the Hephthalite Empire that dates to 570 to 580 AD. The countermark is a beetle and the attribution is Göbl #2404.

I hadn't see a coin of the Hephthalite Empire before, and the beetle countermark is pretty cool. A very nice Sasanian too.

It looks like the thread is ready for the 560's now. That's my lot apart from an Anastasius I, 491-518, a Justin I, 518-528, and a Justinian I, 527-565. (Too many decades?)

Justin II & Sophia. Follis. Constantinople. 567-568 AD.
Obverse: Justin, holding cross on globe, left and Sophia, holding sceptre topped by cross, right, both seated facing on double-throne, both nimbate.
Obverse Inscription: DN IVSTINVS PP AVG. Reverse: Large M, ANNO in left field, cross above, IIΙΙ (regnal year 4th) in right field, Γ (officina) below. Exergue: CON. Bronze. Diameter: 30 mm. Weight: 10.6 gr.
Sear #: 360. MIB 43.

Here's one for the 550's....

Khusro I 531-579AD-AR Drachm-Max 31mm diameter-3.84 grams
Obverse..Facing bust, head right, wearing merlon crown with tassel to left and surmounted by crescent with 3 vertical lines. Crescents at 3, 6 and 9 o'clock. Right of portrait kings name.
Reverse..Fire altar with two attendants standing facing either side of fire altar, wearing tall headgear, both hands on sword hilt. Star and crescent flanking flames of altar. Right-Mint HWC (Gunde-Shapur, Khuzistan) /Left- Regnal year 26 = 557AD.

Here is a Sasanian Drachm from a few years earlier (551 AD) than Pauls. I added this to my collection so long ago, it feels like I found it in pocket change.

This one was minted at Guey and is attributed as Göbl I/2.




Onward tomorrow to the decade of the 540s.

Here is my earliest bicentennial "coin" (it dates to the 530s AD). This is a Half-Siliqua donative, or distribution medalet) from the Byzantine Empire, with that big ol' letter K standing for Constantinople. I have it attributed as Vagi #3051.

Before dropping back another decade, I wanted to be sure to include this Nummus issued by the Vandal King Hilderic. It dates to between 523 and 530 AD and I have it attributed as Wroth 9 and Grierson 1.24. As I recall, this was one of the first coins that I posted to CCF (red background!) and @bobL helped me with the identification.

Neat! Here's my own Justin I, a pentanummium from Antioch (SB 111)...



A version of this type from April-August 527 AD, with the double portrait of Justin I and Justinian I, is said to be the last Roman pagan coin.
Still looking for that one, or for the rumored version from Justinian's sole rule (catalogued as SB 240, never seen one with a legible legend even online, suspect it started out as a misreading of a Justin example). Have about half a dozen of this version now...