Sale: Triton IX, Lot: 1787. Estimate $750.  Closing Date: Monday, 9 January 2006.  Sold For $450. This amount does not include the buyer’s fee.

EARLY ISLAMIC, Arab-Byzantine. In the style of Justin II. After 641 AD. Æ Follis (6.57 g, 7h). Scythopolis (Beth Shan) mint. CKVQO POLHC, Justin II and Sophia enthroned facing, holding cruciform sceptres; cross between / Large M; cross above, ANNO (N's retrograde) U/II across field, A/NIKO below. APBQ A1; Walker, Arab-Byzantine 1; SICA 1 594; Album 98; Berman, Islamic 16. VF, desert patina with contrasting sandy encrustation. Sharp example of the type. ($750)

The important town of Scythopolis-Beth Shan struck an extensive series of imitative folles in the period between the collapse of Byzantine authority in Syria-Palestine in the 640s AD and the introduction of pure Islamic types around 695 AD. This is the earliest issue, having purely Byzantine types with Greek legends. It is not known why Scythopolis and other cities like Gerash struck heavy folles imitating coins of Justin II while other mints were striking small copies of the contemporary coins of Constans II. It has been noted that several large hoards of regular folles of Justin II have been found in the Jordan River valley area. This was an important frontier for the empire, and was well supplied with legionary outposts and fortified settlements which would have required quantities of coinage.