Justinian I at the Mint of Rome

Triton XX, Lot: 1051. Estimate $10000. Sold for $13000. This amount does not include the buyer’s fee.

Justinian I. 527-565. AV Solidus (19mm, 4.45 g, 6h). Rome mint, 1st officina. Struck circa 537-542. D N IVSTINIA–NVS P P AVG, helmeted and cuirassed facing bust, holding globus cruciger in right hand, shield over left shoulder / VICTORI–A AVGGG, angel standing facing, holding long cross in right hand and globus cruciger in left; star in right field; A//ROMOB. DOC 319 var. (obv. legend break); MIBE 28 var. (same); SB 290. EF, slightly creased. Extremely rare and possibly unique with this arrangement of the obverse legend.

From the Goldman Collection. Ex Sincona 3 (25 October 2011), lot 3074; Numismatica Ars Classica 11 (29 April 1998), lot 575.

It is believed that such solidi with the mintmark “ROMOB” were the first to have been struck after the general Belisarius reconquered Rome from the Visigothic king Witiges in 536.