Rare Joint Reign Solidus

Sale: Triton X, Lot: 831. Estimate $5000.  Closing Date: Monday, 8 January 2007.  Sold For $8000. This amount does not include the buyer’s fee.

Justin I & Justinian I. 527. AV Solidus (4.48 g, 6h). Constantinople mint, 6th officina. D N IVSTIN ET IVSTINIAN PP AVC, Justin and Justinian, each nimbate, draped, holding a globus in left hand, enthroned facing; cross above; CONOB / VICTORI-A AVGGG, Victory standing facing, holding long cross in right hand, globus cruciger in left; star in right field; S//CONOB. DOC I 4; Metcalf, Joint 42b (same dies); MIBE 2c; SB 119. Superb EF, lustrous. Rare.

Justin was an illiterate peasant from Thrace who pursued a military career and acquired the throne through his natural strengths and cunning. However, he understood the value of education, especially for his relatives. His nephew Peter was sent to Constantinople, and when Justin became emperor, his nephew Peter, the newly re-named Justinian, was his trusted advisor. When Justin's health began to fail early in 527, Justinian was readily accepted as co-emperor and the transition of power was uneventful. The coming change was advertised by an extensive series of joint reign solidi, judging by the number of dies used. Presumably these pieces were withdrawn from circulation after the accession of Justinian, which would account for their rarity today.