Sale: Triton VIII, Lot: 1398. Estimate $2000.  Closing Date: Monday, 10 January 2005.  Sold For $2800. This amount does not include the buyer’s fee.

PHILIPPICUS (Bardanes). 711-713 AD. AV Solidus (4.47 gm, 6h). Constantinople mint. -DN FILIPICUS MUL TUS [AN], facing bust, wearing crown and loros, holding globus cruciger and eagle-tipped sceptre / VICTORIA AVGU, cross potent on three steps; Z/CONOB. DOC II 1g; MIB III 1; SB 1447. Superb EF, tiny die break on crown. ($2000)

From the Malcolm W. Heckman Collection. Ex Numismatica Ars Classica "Autumn Sale" (26-27 October 1995), lot 882.

Philippicus Bardanes was the scion of a prominent Armenian family from Pergamum. Placed in command of the expedition to ravage Cherson, Justinian II's former place of exile, he instead followed in Justinian's footsteps and led a revolt that toppled the brutal emperor. Once established in Constantinople he neglected military affairs, allowing the Bulgars and Arabs to raid Byzantine territory, while engaging in religious disputes. Philippicus deposed the Patriarch of Constantinople, interfered in church councils, and showed iconoclastic tendencies. Frustrated officers in the Opsikion theme finally overthrew the ineffectual emperor after less than two years, blinding him and exiling him to a monastery.