Revolt of the Heraclii
Revolt of the Heraclii. 608-610. AV Solidus (21mm, 4.40 g, 8h). Uncertain military mint in the East. Dated
fixed IY 11 (summer 608). DN ЄRACLIO CONSVLI BA, facing busts of Heraclius and the Exarch Heraclius, each wearing slight beard and consular robes; cross between / VICTORIA CONSAB, cross potent set upon four steps; IA (date)//COИOB. DOC 11 (Alexandria); MIBE 3¹ (same obv. die as illustration); SB 719 (Alexandria). EF, a lustrous and well centered and struck example. Extremely rare.
Ex Müller Collection; Berk BBS (16 September 1998), lot 27.
Having survived several real and imagined plots to overthrow him, the brutal Phocas was finally brought down by the governor of Carthage and his son, who led a methodical campaign to strip Phocas of all his remaining support. It is likely that fewer people died during the course of the revolt than did during a comparable period under the rule of Phocas. All the revolt coins are dated by indictional or interregnal years, the reign of Heraclius not beginning until the capture of Constantinople and his official proclamation as emperor.
Sear lists revolt solidi for two mints, Carthage and Alexandria. The stylistic differences, however, between SB 718-9 and 720 are so radical that it is extremely unlikely they could be from the same mint. SB 718-9 were probably struck at a temporary mint in Cyprus or Syria, both of which were staging areas for the final assault on Constantinople.
