Early Phocas-Like Portrait of Heraclius – Enigmatic ‘Jerusalem’ Issue

CNG 100, Lot: 2012. Estimate $5000. Sold for $5000. This amount does not include the buyer’s fee.

Heraclius. 610-641. AV Solidus (21mm, 4.54 g, 6h). Uncertain eastern mint (Jerusalem or a mint in Syria?). Struck circa late 610-611. [∂ N ҺЄRAC]LI-ЧS P P AVG, crowned and cuirassed bust facing, holding globus cruciger / VICTORI AVςЧ, angel standing facing, holding staff surmounted by staurogram and globus cruciger; ΙΠ//CONOB. DOC 186 (Alexandria); MIB 76 (Cyprus?); Bendall, Jerusalem 3 (Jerusalem?); SB 850 (Jerusalem). EF, stars scratched in field to either side of Angel’s head. Extremely rare.

This enigmatic issue, which employs a Phocas-style portrait, must have been struck early in Heraclius reign prior to the arrival of the new, official imago. It is clearly the product of a subsidiary mint in the East, which also produced some solidi with facing busts of Heraclius and a young Heraclius Constantine. The traditional attribution to Jerusalem has been called into question, but a satisfactory alternative has not been put forth.