... actually, more like just really cutting back on purchases... since I will be imprisoned in an escape-proof covered steel wagon for a long while because of this purchase:
Justinian I, Byzantine Empire
AV solidus
Obv: D N IVSTINI-ANVS P P AVG, helmeted, cuirassed bust facing, holding cross on globe and shield
Rev: VICTORI-A AVGGG delta, angel standing facing, holding P-headed cross and cross on globe, star in right field
Mint: Constantinople (
Mintmark: CONOB)
Ref: SB 140
Size: 20.75 mm, 4.49 gr.
(attribution info from Wildwinds)
I finally took the plunge and got myself a solidus (my first one. Not my first gold coin; that honor goes to my tremissis of Anastasius). Any late Roman and early Byzantine solidus up until Justinian would have been fine for me as long as it looked nice and was a price I can agree with. With early Byzantine solidii the styles vary widely from beautifully detailed and proportional to flat and awkward (most of the 7th century solidii falls into the latter IMO with all of the line art-looking style, probably why I'll never get one unless it was really relatively cheap, or from a rare mint like Rome). It was kind of a personal mission for me to acquire a Justinian solidus with a style that I really liked, and fortunately I came across this one.
Justinian I (birth name: Petrus Sabbatius) was emperor of the Eastern Roman Empire (Byzantine Empire) from 527 to 565 AD. His uncle was Justin, a guard with the Excubitors (the imperial guard) who would soon become emperor after Anastasius' death. Justin adopted Petrus Sabbatius (and thus giving Petrus his new name Justinian, indicating that he is Justin's adopted son) and brought him to live in Constantinople. There Justinian also served with the Excubitors for some time, and became one of Justin's close associates when Justin became Roman emperor in 518.
Over the next decade, Justinian quickly grew in importance, becoming consul and the overall commander of the army in the east. With his uncle's death in 527, Justinian became Roman Emperor. As emperor, Justinian actively participated in the running of his empire, and became known as the "emperor who never sleeps". One of his lasting achievements was the compilation of all Roman law up to that point: the Codex Justinianus.
He was nearly deposed and killed however, when in 532, supporters of the two popular chariot teams in Constantinople joined together and demanded the removal of several unpopular officials. They then turned their efforts to deposing Justinian himself. The Nika Riots were the worst instance of civil disobedience in Constantinople's history, and Justinian was ready to flee the capital when he was convinced to stay and put down the rioters by his wife, the courtesan-turned-empress Theodora. Justinian then took charge and order his generals Belisarius and Mundus (both would later gain fame fighting in the Gothic War) to put down the riots with force of arms. The Church of the Holy Wisdom did not escape the devastation inflicted by the riots, and would later be rebuilt on an even grander scale on Justinian's orders, and would become world famous as the Hagia Sofia.
An important long-term goal of Justinian was to recover for the Roman Empire the western territories that were lost to the barbarians in the 5th century ("renovatio imperii", the restoration of the empire). The jewel in this crown was the city of Rome, now under the control of King Theodoric and his Goths. After concluding peace with the Persians, Justinian launched an invasion against the Vandal Kingdom in North Africa. After achieving victory in that war Justinian sent his armies to also invade Ostrogoth-held Italy and Visigoth-held Hispania. Italy was fully reconquered and southern Hispania ended up back in imperial control. Ultimately these expensive wars of reconquest produced fleeting results; most of the newly won territories would be lost over the next two centuries.
Justinian died in 565 AD, and was succeeded by his niece's husband, Justin II.
Byzantine (Eastern Roman) Empire at its greatest extent under Justinian, 555 AD:
Posted 11/25/2015 11:56 pm
