AE
Follis 28 mm, 8h, 10.49 g, Nicomedia mint Regnal year IIII=CE 613-614
Sear 834
(undertype Sear 533)
O: fragmentary legend, though legend of the
undertype is easily discernable and mostly clear as δN
MAЧГI CN P AЧT from 12 o’clock down to
nearly 6 o’clock. Portrait of host coin
is mostly obscured, but is clearly Maurice Tiberius CE 582-602. The host coin
was minted approximately 1,000 km from Nicomedia in Theopolis formerly known as
Antioch and a portion of the host mint name is visible on the reverse at
approximately 11-12 o’clock upside down.
R: Large M between
A/N/N/O on the left and II/II on the right with B for the officina beneath the
M and in the ex NIK for the mint.
It is interesting
that a coin that was minted in Antioch between CE 590-602 circulated for
perhaps 10-20 years as a coin of Maurice before being restruck to continue
service as a coin of Heraclius and his son and that is how it has come down to
us.
ex: W. Esty
