Siege of Jerusalem

CNG 103, Lot: 919. Estimate $2000. Sold for $1400. This amount does not include the buyer’s fee.

Heraclius. 610-641. Æ Follis (31mm, 16.74 g, 6h). Jerusalem mint. Dated RY 4 (613/4). D Һ ҺЄRAC-L’ P P AVC, crowned bust facing, wearing consular robes, holding mappa and eagle-tipped scepter / Large M; cross above, date across field; X C NIKA. Bendall, Jerusalem, Type 1, fig. 2; DOC –; MIB X28; SB 852C. Fine, earthen brown surfaces, light roughness. Extremely rare.

Struck during the Sasanian siege of Jerusalem, which lasted from April-May of 614. Two follis variants were issued: one with a mint-mark in the exergue and one with XCNIKA. A developing flaw on an obverse die used for both variants indicates that the folles with ethnic were issued first, those with “Christ conquers” apparently struck as the situation became increasingly desperate (Bendall p. 313). Interestingly, although struck four years into Heraclius’ reign, these folles still copy the portrait of Phocas.