Ancients: Justinian II Rhinotmetus, Second Reign (AD 705-711). AV solidus (20mm, 4.42 gm, 5h). NGC Choice MS 5/5 - 4/5....

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Prooflike Choice Mint State Youthful Christ Solidus

Justinian II Rhinotmetus, Second Reign (AD 705-711). AV solidus (20mm, 4.42 gm, 5h). NGC Choice MS 5/5 - 4/5. Constantinople, AD 705-706. d N IhS ChS RЄX-RЄGNANTIЧM, facing bust of youthful Christ, with slight beard and tight, curly hair, right hand raised in benediction, book of Gospels in left; cross behind / d N IЧS-TINIA-NЧS MЧLTЧS AN, crowned facing bust of Justinian II, wearing loros, cross potent with base set on three steps in right hand, patriarchal cross on globe inscribed PAX in left. Sear 1413. Struck on a prooflike flan from dies carved by a masterful engraver. Beautiful coin in hand.

From the Historical Scholar Collection

Justinian II returned to power ten years after being overthrown with a slightly different appearance. The popular revolt that had overthrown Justinian in 695 was set on making sure he would never rule again, so the mob cut off his nose, in theory rendering him illegitimate to sit on the throne. Plotting his return for ten years, the ever-determined Justinian retook the throne with Bulgarian assistance and appeared before the people of Constantinople in the Hippodrome. The emperor wore a prosthetic nose made of solid gold, a shocking sight for the terrified populace. Their fear was justified; Justinian soon ordered a public purge of those who were in any way connected to the revolt against him in 695, including the Patriarch, who he had mutilated, blinded, and exiled. With his position for the moment secure, Justinian could turn his attention to other matters. He soon placed a new portrait of Christ on his coinage, differing from the "classic" sacred image of the coins of his first reign. Jesus is shown in a seemingly more youthful guise, with a head of tight, curly hair and a close-cropped beard, in place of the long tresses and medium-length beard on coins of the first reign. Various theories have been put forth to explain this abrupt change in iconography, but it remains mysterious. At any rate, young, curly headed Christ proved a short-lived depiction. It would not be until the end of the iconoclastic era, in the late 9th century AD, that Christ would again be depicted on Byzantine coins, and the image would revert to the more traditional long-haired visage of Justinian II's first reign. The gold coinage and anonymous folles of the tenth and eleventh centuries also retained a more traditional, nimbate, and long-haired Christ. Consequently, the youthful Christ portraits of Justinian II's second reign represent a rare period of deviation from the conventions of Byzantine religious numismatic art.

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