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Anastasius II Artemius. 713-715. AV Solidus (17.5mm, 4.26 g, 6h). Constantinople mint, 8th officina. Crowned facing bust, wearing chlamys, holding globus cruciger and akakia / Cross potent set on three steps; H//CONOB. DOC 2g; MIB 2; Füeg 2.H.1 (this coin cited in corpus); SB 1463. Toned, clipped, edge mark. Good VF.
Ex Künker 24 (10 March 1993), lot 695; Superior (10 December 1988), lot 2650; California Collection (Superior, 3 October 1978), lot 242; Galerie des Monnaies (9 June 1978), lot 1983; J. Schulman 265 (28 September 1976), lot 938; Superior (19 August 1975), lot 3187. Reportedly also Baldwin’s “A Selection of Byzantine Coins” (February 1991), no. 27.
An effective court bureaucrat, Artemius was elevated to the throne following a revolt by the Opsikion theme against Philippicus. Many of the policies adopted by Artemius, who took the regnal name Anastasius II, were wise and helped stabilize the empire following two decades of tumult. He was additionally Orthodox and removed Philippicus’ heretical appointee as Patriarch, John VI. However, during his campaigns against the Arabs (which included dispatching future emperor Leo III to Syria), the Opsikion theme revolted a second subsequent time while on campaign at Rhodes. Anastasius was deposed and fled to Nicaea but was allowed to live and retire to a monastery at Thessalonica. However, in 719, Anastasius revolted against then Emperor Leo III from Thessalonica in an effort to retake the throne. Receiving support from the Bulgars, Anastasius orchestrated a plot to have the gates of Constantinople opened for his mercenary army; for, the walls and defenses that Anastasius himself had rebuilt and constructed during his reign would have been an immense obstacle to overcome in taking the city. Unfortunately for him, his message was intercepted, the plot exposed, and his conspirators in Constantinople were executed. With the siege unsuccessful, Anastasius was handed over to Leo by his Bulgar army. He was then executed along with the chief coconspirators of his revolt including the archbishop of Thessalonica, Niketas Xylinitas.
The final winners of all CNG Feature Auction 132 lots will be determined at the live online sale that will be held on 18-19 May 2026.
CNG Feature Auction 132 – Session Four – Lot 889-1124 will be held Tuesday afternoon, 19 May 2026 beginning at 2:00 PM ET.
Winning bids are subject to a 22.5% buyer's fee for bids placed on this website and 25% for all others.
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