Sale: Triton XII, Lot: 801. Estimate $1000.  Closing Date: Monday, 5 January 2009.  Sold For $2200. This amount does not include the buyer’s fee.

Justinian I. 527-565. AV Solidus (4.40 g, 6h). Uncertain mint. Struck circa 542-565. D N IVSTINI ΛNVS PP A, helmeted and cuirassed facing bust, holding globus cruciger in right hand and shield with horseman motif on left arm / VICTORI Λ ΛVCCC, Angel standing facing, holding long staff surmounted by Christogram in right hand and globus cruciger in left; star to right; Θ//CONOB. Unpublished. EF.

Three significant features of this coin are its relatively rough style, the abbreviated obverse legend, and the Θ at the end of the reverse legend. While the Θ officina is known at Constantinople (cf. DOC 9i), the other two features suggest the coin is not a product of the imperial mint there. An attribution to the Ravenna mint is also doubtful, as although this shortened obverse legend is known there (cf. Ranieri 316), and the style of Ravenna is more crude overall, an officina Θ or year dated Θ is unlikely. Similarly, MIBE lists a solidus of this type with the Θ at an uncertain mint in Sicily (MIBE NV37), but the style of the coins from this mint are fairly consistent, as is the obverse legend, both of which are different from the present example. Overall, the style and irregular legend suggest a mint in Italy, and this solidus may be a product of an irregular (campaign?) mint of the Byzantines.