Interesting Eastern Imitation

303, Lot: 602. Estimate $200. Sold for $525. This amount does not include the buyer’s fee.

Heraclius. 610-641. Æ Follis (23mm, 4.21 g, 5h). Eastern imitation dated RY 17 (626/7), but with Theopolis (Antioch) mint signature (out of operation since circa 610). Three crowned imperial figures, each holding globus cruciger; Ч to right / Large M; cross above, A/N/N X/Ч/II across field; Γ//ЄUP. W. Hahn, “Minting activity in the Diocese of Oriens under Heraclius,” NumCirc LXXXV, no. 7-8 (July/August 1977), p. 307, fig. 7 (same dies) = MIB X44. Near VF, dark green, almost black, patina, rough reverse. Extremely rare – perhaps the second known (the other in the National Museum, Warsaw).