Byzantine Enigma

CNG 90, Lot: 1780. Estimate $3000. Sold for $4250. This amount does not include the buyer’s fee.

temp. Maurice Tiberius (?). 582-602. AR Half Siliqua (16mm, 1.12 g, 7h). Uncertain mint. Façade of a church topped by three crosses / Cross potent set on two steps; A ω flanking. DOC –; cf. MIBE 61 (for rev. type); cf. SB 553 (same); otherwise, unpublished. VF, toned, some roughness. Apparently unique.

Silver coinage saw only marginal production and circulation in the Byzantine world. In the eastern part of the empire, silver coins were struck only sporadically, primarily as ceremonial issues. These were usually miliarenses and siliquae and were struck to either a heavy standard of 60 miliarenses to the pound or a light standard of 72 to the pound. Meanwhile, the denominations in the west evolved from the old Vandalic system, which relied heavily on silver coins. The smaller half and quarter siliquae, at 288 and 864 to the pound, respectively, were struck and widely circulated there.

The weight of this coin fits precisely with that of the western issues during the time of Maurice Tiberius. Although the obverse type, a façade topped with three crosses, is entirely unknown for the Byzantine series, the reverse has a parallel in the half siliquae struck at Carthage during Maurice’s reign. However, the reverse lacks the characteristic wreath, and the cross has much more pronounced limbs. Such variations make an attribution to Carthage problematic. Regardless of the source, the unique iconography of the piece implies that this was a special issue, perhaps to commemorate a church celebration. One theory suggests that the building portrayed may be the Church of the Holy Sepulcher, although this remains little more than speculation.