Three Extremely Rare Military Mint Solidi

Triton XVIII, Lot: 1302. Estimate $1500. Sold for $3250. This amount does not include the buyer’s fee.

Heraclius, with Heraclius Constantine. 610-641. AV Solidus (20.5mm, 4.38 g, 6h). Uncertain eastern military mint, 5th officina. Struck circa 613-616/8. ∂ NN ҺЄRACLIVC Єτ ҺЄRA CONSτ P P, crowned facing busts of Heraclius and Heraclius Constantine, each wearing chlamys; cross above / VICTORIA AVςЧ, cross potent set on three steps; Є•//CONOB. Bendall, Jerusalem, pl. XLI, 18 (this coin); DOC –; MIB 107a (Rome or Alexandria?); SB 928. EF. Extremely rare.

Regarding this and the two following lots, Bendall (p. 317) notes: “There also exist other extremely rare solidi of Heraclius and Heraclius Constantine struck at this time, all in the east in the experience of the writer, which are illustrated here (figs. 18-21), which can surely only indicate that in the troubled times between 613 and 616/8 there may have been a number of ephemeral mints connected with Heraclius’ campaigns in the east.”