Sale: Nomos 2, Lot: 223. Estimate CHF7500.  Closing Date: Monday, 17 May 2010.  Sold For CHF6500. This amount does not include the buyer’s fee.

Justinian I. 527-565. Solidus (Gold, 4.45 g 6), Rome, circa 537. D N IVSTINIANVS P P AVG Helmeted and cuirassed bust of Justinian facing, holding cross on globe in his right hand and with shield over his left shoulder. Rev. VICTORIA AVCCCA / ROMOB Angel standing facing, holding long cross on base in his right hand and cross on globe in his left; to right, star. DOC -. MIBE 28.1 = BMC Vandals pl. XVI, 4 (Berlin, same reverse die). SB 290. Extremely rare, and one of the finest specimens of this type known. Good very fine.

From the Christov Family Collection, Goldberg 53, 24 May 2009, 2009 and ex Triton III, 30 November 1999, 1300.

This was the earliest solidus struck by Justinian’s forces after they recaptured Rome from the Ostrogoths. The clear and explicit mintmark ROMOB was almost immediately changed to the more usual Byzantine gold mark, CONOB, shortly after this coin was struck.