| Savoca Numismatik GmbH & Co. KG > Online Auction 198 | Silver | Auction date: 25 February 2024 |
| Lot number: 311 Price realized: 2,800 EUR (Approx. 3,027 USD) Note: Prices do not include buyer's fees. | |
| Lot description: Justinian II, 2nd reign AD 705-711. Constantinople Solidus AV 20 mm, 4,51 g d N IhS ChS RЄX-RЄGNANTIЧM, facing bust of youthful Christ Pantocrator, with slight beard and tight, curly hair, right hand raised in benediction, book of gospels cradled in left arm; cross behind / d N IЧSTINIA-NЧS ЄT TIbЄRIЧS PP A, crowned facing half-length figures of Justinian II (on left), bearded, and Tiberius (on right), smaller and beardless, both wearing divitision, chlamys, and crown surmounted by cross, jointly holding cross potent on two steps. Few contact marks, otherwise, Mint State. Sear 1414. The second reign of Justinian II, known as Rhinotmetus (the Slit-nosed), marked a tumultuous period in Byzantine history, characterized by his unlikely return to power and the co-reign with Tiberius III. After his initial deposition in 695 due to unpopular and harsh rule, Justinian II was exiled and subjected to mutilation, a common practice to prevent deposed rulers from reclaiming the throne. However, his resilience and determination led to an extraordinary comeback. In 705, with the help of Bulgar and Slav allies, Justinian II managed to reclaim the Byzantine throne, showcasing a rare instance of a Byzantine emperor regaining power after such a downfall. Upon his return, Justinian's rule was marked by a thirst for revenge against those who had wronged him and an attempt to restore his authority and the sanctity of the imperial office. During this second tenure, Justinian II's co-reign with Tiberius III was brief and fraught with challenges. Tiberius, initially a usurper who took advantage of Justinian's absence, was quickly sidelined as Justinian II sought to consolidate power solely under his control. The co-reign essentially highlighted the complexities of Byzantine politics, where alliances and power dynamics were constantly in flux. Justinian II's efforts to restore stability and his previous policies were overshadowed by his vengeful actions, which ultimately contributed to his unpopularity and the instability of his reign. His second rule came to an abrupt end in 711 when he was overthrown once more and executed, closing the chapter on one of the most dramatic and turbulent reigns in the history of the Byzantine Empire. This period underscores the volatile nature of Byzantine imperial politics and the remarkable story of a ruler's fall, exile, and brief restoration to power. Starting price: 2500 EUR |  |
Match 1:
| Savoca Numismatik GmbH & Co. KG > Online Auction 198 | Silver | Auction date: 25 February 2024 |
| Lot number: 308 Price realized: 360 EUR (Approx. 389 USD) Note: Prices do not include buyer's fees. | |
| Lot description: Zeno, second reign AD 476-491. Constantinople Solidus AV 20 mm, 4,22 g D N ZENO PERP AVG, helmeted, diademed and cuirassed bust of Zeno facing, holding spear over his right shoulder and with shield, ornamented with a horseman spearing a fallen foe, over his left / VICTORI-A AVGGG Δ, CONOB, Victory standing left, holding long jeweled cross in her right hand, to right, star. Very Fine Depeyrot 108/1; RIC 910. Starting price: 150 EUR |  |
Match 2:
| Savoca Numismatik GmbH & Co. KG > Online Auction 209 | Silver | Auction date: 28 April 2024 |
| Lot number: 567 Price realized: 380 EUR (Approx. 407 USD) Note: Prices do not include buyer's fees. | |
| Lot description: Zeno, second reign AD 476-491. Constantinople Solidus AV 20 mm, 4,36 g D N ZENO PERP AVG, helmeted, diademed and cuirassed bust of Zeno facing, holding spear over his right shoulder and with shield, ornamented with a horseman spearing a fallen foe, over his left / VICTORI-A AVGGG Δ, CONOB, Victory standing left, holding long jeweled cross in her right hand, to right, star. Very Fine Depeyrot 108/1; RIC 910. Starting price: 200 EUR |  |
Match 3:
| Oslo Myntgalleri AS > Auction 38 | Auction date: 4 May 2024 |
| Lot number: 1005 Price realized: 28,000 NOK (Approx. 2,531 USD / 2,368 EUR) Note: Prices do not include buyer's fees. | |
| Lot description: Justinian II, first reign, AD 685-695. AV solidus (18,5 mm; 4,34 g). Constantinople mint, struck AD 692-695. Draped bust of Christ facing, with long hair and full beard, raising hand in benediction and holding Gospels; cross behind head; Justinian II standing facing, crowned and wearing loros, holding cross potent on two steps and akakia; Γ // CONOP. Some areas of flat strike and some edge filing and edge marks, possible from mounting. A fine portrait of Christ., DOC 7c, SB 1248, Grade: 01, Ex Classical Numismatic Group, auction 87, 18.5.2011, lot 1276 Starting price: 10000 NOK |  |
Match 4:
| Savoca Numismatik GmbH & Co. KG > Online Auction 187 | Silver | Auction date: 10 December 2023 |
| Lot number: 398 Price realized: 500 EUR (Approx. 539 USD) Note: Prices do not include buyer's fees. | |
| Lot description: Constans II AD 641-668. Struck ca. 651-654 AD. Constantinople. 2nd officina Solidus AV 20 mm, 4,39 g d N CONStANtINЧS PP AV, crowned facing bust, wearing chlamys, holding globus cruciger / VICTORIA-AVϚЧ B, cross potent set on three steps; CONOB in exergue. Very Fine DOC 19b; MIB 23; SB 956. Constans II, known as "the Bearded," was the Byzantine Emperor from 641 to 668. Born in 630, he became co-emperor with his father in 654 and later assumed sole rule in September 668 after his father's assassination. Constans faced challenges, including suppressing a military revolt in Sicily and navigating conflicts with the Muslim Caliphate. His religious policy attempted to find a middle ground between Orthodoxy and Monothelitism, culminating in the Type of Constans decree in 648. During his reign, the Muslim Caliphate, under Umar, Uthman, and Mu'awiya I, launched invasions, leading to Arab raids and territorial losses for the Byzantines. Constans was the first emperor to visit Rome since the Western Roman Empire's fall in 476. In 663, he embarked on campaigns in Italy, attacking the Lombard Duchy of Benevento and visiting Rome for twelve days. Despite friendly relations with Pope Vitalian, Constans stripped buildings of their ornaments and bronze. His rule saw developments such as the creation of themes, military-administrative districts. However, Constans faced internal challenges, including opposition to Monothelitism and suspicions regarding his younger brother Theodosius, whom he later had killed in 660. Constans II was assassinated in 668, leading to the succession of his son Constantine IV. His legacy includes diplomatic contacts with China, recorded in the Chinese dynastic histories of the Old and New Book of Tang, showcasing the Byzantine Empire's interactions with distant cultures. Starting price: 200 EUR |  |
Match 5:
| Savoca Numismatik GmbH & Co. KG > Online Auction 187 | Silver | Auction date: 10 December 2023 |
| Lot number: 386 Price realized: 420 EUR (Approx. 453 USD) Note: Prices do not include buyer's fees. | |
| Lot description: Marcian AD 450-457. Constantinople Solidus AV 20 mm, 4,52 g D N MARCIANVS P F AVG, pearl-diademed, helmeted and cuirassed bust facing slightly to right, holding spear and shield decorated with horseman motif / VICTORIA AVGGG H, Victory standing facing, head to left, supporting long jewelled cross; star in right field, CONOB in exergue. Nearly Very Fine RIC X 510; Depeyrot 87/1. Flavius Marcianus, known as Markian, rose from humble beginnings to rule the Eastern Roman Empire from 450 to 457. Born around 390 in Thrace, he forged a successful military career under magister militum Aspar, participating in campaigns, including the failed 441 operation against the Vandals. Markian's ascent followed Emperor Theodosius II's unexpected death in 450, leading to his independent selection by the court, military, and senators in Constantinople. Markian's internal policies aimed at stabilizing the empire, addressing financial concerns, and fostering religious unity. His reign saw the significant Fourth Ecumenical Council of Chalcedon in 451, solidifying the Chalcedonian line and asserting the Patriarch of Constantinople's equality with the Bishop of Rome. In foreign affairs, Markian defied the Huns in 450, enhancing the empire's prestige. He played a key role in the aftermath of Attila's death in 453, negotiating with factions and resettling some under Roman control. Markian's death in 457 marked the end of a prosperous era. Despite his brief rule, his fiscal responsibility, religious diplomacy, and diplomatic acumen left a lasting legacy, with subsequent rulers often urged to "rule like Markian." Starting price: 150 EUR |  |
