A Roman Half-Follis

I recently bought another coin for my Byzantine Italy sub collection, one I didn't have before but wanted very much: a very rare half follis from Rome mint.

I've told about the pivotal conflict that was the Gothic War between the Eastern Romans/Byzantines and the Ostrogoths in previous threads, so I'll just add this time that these Rome mint half-folles of Justinian were struck right after first capture of Rome by the Roman army in 537 and struck until around 542 AD. This latter date coincides with the resurgence under King Totila of the previously weakened and demoralized Goths.

After decisive victories at Verona and at Faventia in 542, the Goths quickly overran most of Italy at the expense of the disunited (and not to mention broke) Roman leadership. I speculate the loss of most of Italy (with the exception of Rome, Ravenna and a few other cities and fortresses) made it very difficult for the Byzantine Romans to transport large amounts of metal to Rome safely, and this led to the cessation of minting there until the second capture of Rome by the Romans in the spring of 547 AD.

Byzantine Rome mint bronzes of this time retained the cruder style present on Ostrogothic bronze coins, namely the bowl haircut, the thick bust features, and the wreath border on the reverse.

Justinian, Eastern Roman Empire
AE half-follis
Obv: D N IVSTI-NIANVS P P AVG, diademed, draped, and cuirassed bust right
Rev: Large K, star to left, cross to right, all within wreath
Mint: Rome (struck 537-542 AD)
Ref: SB 301