Both sides of an irregularly shaped gold coin with relief decoration on each side.
Photo © President and Fellows of Harvard College
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Photo © President and Fellows of Harvard College

On the side of the coin on the left is the bust of a man facing front, with a large cross behind him, wearing a beard, draped in loose fitting clothing, right hand raised with index and middle finger raised, left hand holding a book with rectangular raised dots on the cover; surrounding the border, the characters: D N / I h S / C n S / R E X / R E G N A N T I U M. The other side of the coin depicts the bust of a man facing front, wearing a beard with a crown on top of head, wrapped in clothing with a diamond pattern with a dots in the middle, right hand raised holding a cross, left hand holding an orb with the letters P A X on it, with a small cross on top; surrounding the border, the characters: [I V S] T I N I A N V S / M V L T V S.

Identification and Creation

Object Number
1972.239
People
Justinian II, Byzantine (r. 685-695; co-r. 705-711)
Issued by Byzantine Empire
Title
Solidus of Justinian II, Second Reign, Constantinople
Classification
Coins
Work Type
coin
Date
705 CE
Places
Creation Place: Ancient & Byzantine World, Europe, Constantinople (Thrace)
Period
Byzantine period, Early
Culture
Byzantine
Persistent Link
https://hvrd.art/o/196060

Location

Location
Level 3, Room 3700, Ancient Mediterranean and Middle Eastern Art, Roman Art
View this object's location on our interactive map

Physical Descriptions

Medium
gold
Metal
AV
Technique
Struck
Dimensions
4.39 g
Die Axis
6
Denomination
solidus
Inscriptions and Marks
  • Obverse Inscription: DN IhS CnS REX REGNANTIUM
  • Reverse Inscription: [IVS]TINIANVS MVLTVS? (on orb: PAX)

State, Edition, Standard Reference Number

Standard Reference Number
DOC II 2,1.3 p.648; Morrison 429

Acquisition and Rights

Credit Line
Harvard Art Museums/Arthur M. Sackler Museum, Bequest of Frederick M. Watkins
Accession Year
1972
Object Number
1972.239
Division
Asian and Mediterranean Art
Contact
am_asianmediterranean@harvard.edu
Permissions

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Descriptions

Description
Obv.: Bust of Christ facing front
Rev.: Bust of Justinian facing front, holding cross and orb

Publication History

  • The Frederick M. Watkins Collection, exh. cat., Fogg Art Museum (Cambridge, MA, 1973)

Exhibition History

  • The Frederick M. Watkins Collection, Fogg Art Museum, Cambridge, 01/31/1973 - 03/14/1973
  • The Portrait, Harvard University Art Museums, Fogg Art Museum, Cambridge, 10/15/2004 - 01/09/2005
  • Objects for a Kunstkammer: Early European Collecting, 1550-1700, Harvard University Art Museums, Busch-Reisinger Museum, 12/10/2005 - 11/19/2006
  • Re-View: S422 Ancient & Byzantine Art & Numismatics, Harvard Art Museums/Arthur M. Sackler Museum, Cambridge, 04/12/2008 - 06/18/2011
  • 32Q: 3700 Roman, Harvard Art Museums, 11/16/2014 - 01/01/2050

Verification Level

This record has been reviewed by the curatorial staff but may be incomplete. Our records are frequently revised and enhanced. For more information please contact the Division of Asian and Mediterranean Art at am_asianmediterranean@harvard.edu