Sale: Triton VIII, Lot: 1332. Estimate $300.  Closing Date: Monday, 10 January 2005.  Sold For $625. This amount does not include the buyer’s fee.

JUSTIN II. 565-578 AD. AR Quarter Siliqua (0.37 gm, 6h). Ravenna mint. D N IVSTINVS P AV, diademed, draped, and cuirassed bust right / Cross surmounted by Christogram, globus at base of cross; all within wreath. DOC I -; cf. MIB II 42 (forked base); BMC Vandals pg. 125, 9 (Lombards); cf. SB 414. Choice EF, iridescent toning. ($300)

From the Malcolm W. Heckman Collection.

It is still unclear whether certain variations of design in the Byzantine silver coins of Italy (such as the forked or globus base to the cross) indicate early issues of the Lombards, who invaded Italy in 568 and took much of the northern part of the country from the Byzantines. There are very crude types that are clearly unofficial, i.e. probable Lombard issues, but many others fall into the gray area of "Dark Age" coinage.