Sale: CNG 61, Lot: 2205. Estimate $1000.  Closing Date: Wednesday, 25 September 2002.  Sold For $1000. This amount does not include the buyer’s fee.

ANASTASIUS I. 491-518 AD. AR Miliarense (3.79 gm). Thessalonica mint. Pearl-diademed, draped and cuirassed bust right / Anastasius standing facing, head left, holding spear in right hand and resting left on shield; star in left field; THSOB. DOC I -; SB -; Hahn, MIBE, NN18 (citing two known specimens). Toned VF, porous. Very rare, the third recorded specimen. ($1000)

See Classical Numismatic Group Sale 47 (16 September 1998), lot 2099 and Freeman and Sear FPL 5 (Spring 1998), lot E174 for the other two recorded examples/I>.

This rare type was struck under Leo and Zeno at Thessalonica, and although it makes sense that the types would exist for Anastasius, there is no recorded example. Silver coinage under the Byzantines was issued only rarely, usually serving some ceremonial or other exceptional purpose, and thus there are many lacunae in the numismatic record that one should expect to see filled by future discovery.