Happenings 03
Happenings 03
COLLECTIONS / Best of Museum

Solidus of Justinian I

The obverse depicts the bust of emperor Justinian I with a military attire, holding globus cruciger in his right hand. Around the perimeter reads the inscription DN IVSTINIANVS PPAVG (Dominus Noster Iustinianus Perpetuus Augustus) which means “Our Lord, Justinian, the eternal emperor”. The reverse shows an angle with a long chiton and labarus with a cross in the right hand, while holds a globus cruciger in his left hand. Around the perimeter reads VICTORI AAVGGGA (Victory of the emperors) and in the lower part COΝOB which stands for the Constantinople mint (COΝ και ΟΒ[ryzum] meaning pure gold). In the Paleochristian times (4th-6th c. a.D.) the angel replaces the Nike of the Roman Times.

Code

ΒΝ 148

Type

Coin-solidus

Chronology

545-565

Dimensions

Diameter 2,1 cm., weight 4,36 g.

Material of Construction

Gold

Origin

Adam, prefecture of Thessaloniki