565 - Anastasius I (491-518). AV Solidus. Constantinople mint, 492-507 AD. Obv. DN ANASTASIVS PP AVC. Helmeted and cuirassed bust facing slightly right, helmet with cross and plume, holding spear and shield. Rev. VICTORIA AVCCC I. Victory standing left, holding long voided cross; to right, star; in exergue, CONOB. D.O. 3f; MIB 4a; Sear 3. AV. 4.41 g. 20.5 mm. Choice example with superb portrait. Exquisite details. An intriguing type, featuring the cross within the bowl of the helmet. About FDC.

566 - Anastasius I (491-518). AV Solidus, Constantinople mint, 492-507. Obv. DN ANASTA-SIVS PP AVG. Helmeted and cuirassed bust facing slightly right, holding spear and shield. Rev. VICTORI-A AVGGG Δ. Victory standing left, holding long jewelled cross; star in right field; in exergue, CONOB. D.O. 3-5; Sear 3. AV. 4.49 g. 21 mm. Choice example, sharply struck from fresh dies. EF.

567 - Justinian I (527-565). AE Follis. Cyzicus mint, 1st officina. Dated RY 16. Obv. DN IVSTINI-ANVS PP AVI. Helmeted and cuirassed bust facing, holding globus cruciger and shield; to right, cross. Rev. Large M between A/N/N/O and X/Ч; above, cross; beneath, A; in exergue, KYZ. D.O. 172b; Sear 207. AE. 22.72 g. 42 mm. Superb example, struck on broad flan. Unusually well preserved. Delicate brown patina. About EF/EF.

568 - Justinian I (527-565). AR 125 Nummi. Ravenna mint, c. 552-565. Obv. DN IVSTINIANVS. Diademed bust right, wearing robe ornamented by row of pellets. Rev. Large PKE within wreath. D.O. 335a-b ; MIBE 68-70 (Rome); Sear 315; Cf. Ranieri 348-353. AR. 0.53 g. 11 mm. RRR. Extremely rare and superb example, preserved in outstanding condition for the issue. Good EF/About FDC.

569 - Tiberius II Constantine (578-582). AE Follis. Constantinople mint, 1st officina. Dated RY 5 (AD 578/9). Obv. δM TIb CONS-TANT PP AVG. Crowned facing bust, wearing consular robes, holding mappa and eagle-tipped sceptre with cross. Rev. Large m; cross above; A/N/N/O u across fields; in exergue, CONA. D.O. 13a; MIBE 25; Sear 430. AE. 18.57 g. 38 mm. Brown patina with green deposits. Choice example. About EF/EF.

570 - Maurice Tiberius (582-602). AE Decanummium. Catania mint. Dated RY 1 (582/3). Obv. DN TIbER mAVRIC PP AC. Crowned and cuirassed facing bust, holding globus cruciger and shield. Rev. Large I; A/N/NO I across field; in exergue, CAT. D.O. 264 var. (legend on obverse); MIB 136B (same); Sear 580 (same). AR. 3.42 g. 18 mm. Good example with dark patina. Good VF/About EF.

571 - Heraclius, with Heraclius Constantine and Heraclonas (610-641). AV Solidus, Uncertain Italian mint. Obv. Heraclius (in centre), Heraclius Constantine (on right) and Heraclonas (on left) all standing facing; they each hold globus cruciger and wear chlamys. Rev. VICTORIA AVGЧ Δ. Cross potent on three steps; monogram to left, A to right; CONOB below. Cf. D.O. 39; Cf. MIB 45; Cf. Sear 764; Ratto -. AV. 4.45 g. 20 mm. RRR. Extremely rare, apparently unpublished in the standard bibliography. Choice example, with peripheral areas of weak strike. About FDC/FDC.

572 - Heraclius (610-641). AV Semis, Ravenna mint, c. 610-613. Obv. dN ЄRACLI PERP AVG. Bearded, diademed, draped and cuirassed bust right. Rev. VICTORIΛ ΛVCCΙΓ. Cross potent on circle with dot. Cf. Sear 899 (var. beardless); Cf. Ranieri 569 (same die of reverse)(var. same); Cf. MIB 123 (var. same). AV. 2.23 g. 19 mm. RRRR. Of the highest rarity, apparently unlisted in the standard bibliography. Die break on obverse, otherwise. good EF. Apparently the only depiction of Heraclius with beard on a Semis minted in Ravenna. The portrait is very reminiscent of that of Phocas, from a few years earlier.

573 - Constans II (641-668) with Constantine IV. AR Hexagram. Constantinople mint, 654-659. Obv. Facing busts of Constans with long beard, and Constantine IV, beardless; each wearing crown and chlamys; between their heads, cross. Rev. Cross potent set on three steps, between two palm branches. D.O. 47; MIB 141; Sear 987. AR. 4.31 g. 21.5 mm. RR. Very rare and good example. Traces of double strike. Good VF.

574 - Constantine IV, Pogonatus (668-685). AV Tremissis. Uncertain Italian mint. Obv. d N CONSTANTINЧ PP A. Diademed, draped and cuirassed bust right. Rev. VICTORIA AVGЧVΙ. Cross potent; monogram in right field; CONOB beneath. D.O. 76 var. (rev. legend); MIB 52a (Rome); Cf. Sear 1228. AV. 1.47 g. 15 mm. RRRR. Extremely Rare, one of a few known pieces. Great specimen, perfectly struck and centered. Graffiti on obverse. EF.

575 - Constantine IV, Pogonatus (668-685). AR Half Siliqua, Uncertain Italian mint. Obv. Diademed, draped and cuirassed bust right. Rev. Two crosses potents arranged to form a star of eight rays. D.O. 79; MIB 69 (Constantinople); Sear 1230. AR. 0.99 g. 14 mm. RRR. Extremely rare and well centred. The attribution of this coin remains uncertain and of particular interest. Good VF.

576 - Leo III the 'Isaurian', with Constantine V (717-741). AV Tremissis, Syracuse mint, 735-741. Obv. [C N] LЄON P A [MЧL]. Crowned bust of Leo facing, wearing chlamys and holding globus cruciger and akakia. Rev. [C N CONSTAҺTIҺ']. Facing bust of Constantine V with short beard, wearing crown and chlamys, holding cross potent and akakia. D.O. 51; Sear 1528. AV. 1.15 g. 13.5 mm. RR. Very rare and good example. Die shift on reverse. About EF.

577 - Constantine V (741-775). AV Tremissis, Syracuse mint. Obv. Bust facing wearing crown and chlamys and holding cross potent and akakia. Rev. Facing bust of Leo III with short beard, wearing crown and chlamys and holding globus cruciger and akakia. D.O. 17; Sear 1567. AV. 1.16 g. 14 mm. R. Rare and choice example. EF.

578 - PB Seal, Byzantine, c. 8th-9th century. John hypatos. Obv. ΤΩ -ΣΩ / Δ̣Ɣ - ΛΩ. Cruciform invocative monogram of Θεοτόκε βοήθει. Rev. ΙΩ / ANNOY / YΠAΤω in three lines; floral ornament below. BZS.1951.31.5.1387. PB. 16.91 g. 28.5 mm. Good VF.

579 - Theophilus (829-842). AV Semissis, Syracuse mint. Obv. ΘЄOFILOS. Bust facing, wearing crown and chlamys; holding globus cruciger. Rev. ΘЄOFILOS. Bust facing, wearing crown and loros; holding globus cruciger. D.O. 26a; Sear 1673. AV. 1.75 g. 13 mm. Rare and choice example, nicely toned. Hairline flan crack. EF.

580 - Theophilus (829-842). AV Semissis, Syracuse mint. Obv. ΘEOFILOS bA. Crowned facing bust of Theophilus, wearing chlamys, holding globus cruciger; star at beginning of legend. Rev. ΘEOFILOS bA. Crowned facing bust of Theophilus, wearing loros, holding globus cruciger. D.O. 19; Sear 1676. AV. 1.73 g. 12 mm. R. Superb example with bright fields, virtually as struck. About FDC/Good EF.

581 - Theophilus (829-842). AV Tremissis, Syracuse mint. Obv. ΘЄOFILOS. Bust facing with short beard, wearing crown and chlamys, and holding globus cruciger. Rev. ΘЄOFILOS. Bust facing with short beard, wearing crown and loros, and holding cross potent. D.O. 27; Sear 1678. AV. 1.2 g. 12 mm. Superb example, virtually as struck. About FDC.

582 - Theophilus (829-842). AV Tremissis, Syracuse mint. Obv. *ΘЄOFIΛOS bA. Crowned facing bust, wearing chlamys, holding globus cruciger. Rev. ΘЄOFIΛOS bA. Crowned facing bust, wearing loros, holding globus cruciger. D.O. 20; Sear 1679. AV. 1.24 g. 12 mm. Superb example, with bright fields. Virtually as struck. About FDC.

583 - Constantine VII Porphyrogenitus and Romanus II (945-963 AD). AV Solidus, Constantinople mint. Obv. + IhS XPS RЄX RЄϚNANTIЧM. Half length bust of Christ facing, wearing nimbus cruciger pallium and colobium, right hand raised in benediction, book of Gospels cradled in left. Rev. COhStAht CЄ ROmAh' AЧϚϚ I'R'. Crowned facing busts of Constantine VII (on left), bearded, wearing loros, and Romanus II (on right), wearing chlamys pinned at right shoulder, jointly holding long patriarchal cross. D.O. 15; Sear 1751. AV. 4.4 g. 20 mm. Choice example, with good details. Minor marks, otherwise. EF.

584 - Romanus III Argyrus (1028-1034). AV Histamenon Nomisma. Constantinople mint. Obv. + IhS XIS RЄX RЄϚNANTIЧM. Christ Pantokrator seated facing on throne. Rev. ΘCЄ bOHΘ´ RωMAnω. Romanus, holding globus cruciger, standing facing, being crowned and blessed by the Theotokos (Virgin Mary); MΘ above. D.O. 1c; Sear 1819; Ratto 1972. AV. 4.42 g. 25 mm. Good example. EF.

585 - Constantine IX Monomachus (1042-1055 AD). AV Histamenon Nomisma, Constantinople mint. Obv. +IhC XIC RCX RCSnAnTIhm. Facing bust of Christ Pantokrator, nimbate, raising hand in benediction and holding Gospels; crescents in nimbus. Rev. +CωhtSATh bASILCЧS Rm. Facing bust of Constantine, wearing crown and loros, holding long cross and globus cruciger. D.O. 3; Sear 1830. AV. 4.37 g. 26.5 mm. Well centred. Roughness on reverse. About EF. Michael V had succeeded his uncle Michael IV as emperor. His first actions were to banish his uncle, John the Eunuch and to imprison the Empress Zoe in a nunnery. This led to the population’s demand for an ousting of the emperor and he was deposed, blinded and Zoe and Theodora ruled jointly for 7 weeks. Zoe then chose Constantine as her third husband. He was interested in learning and the arts and less in statesmanship. In 1046 he had a first encounter with the Seljuk Turks in Armenia which resulted in a truce. Foolishly he then disbanded the Armenian forces at a time when they should have been strengthened. In 1054 the Great Schism between the churches of the West and East was caused when the Patriarch refused to adopt Western church practices. He was excommunicated by a Papal legation and he in turn excommunicated them. This rift was never to heal. In all, Constantinus IX did more damage to the state than many an emperor before him.

586 - Constantine X Ducas (1059-1067). AV Histamenon Nomisma. Constantinople mint. Obv. +IhS XIS RCX – RCGNANTIhm. Christ Pantokrator enthroned facing. Rev. +KωNRΛCΛ – OΔOUKΛC. Constantine standing facing, holding labarum and globus cruciger. D.O. 1b; Sear 1847. AV. 4.43 g. 25 mm. EF.

587 - The Empire of Nicaea. John III, Ducas (1222-1254). AV Hyperpyron, Magnesia mint, c. 1232-1254. Obv. Christ seated facing upon throne without back, bearded and nimbate, wearing colobium over chiton, hand raised in benediction, holding Gospels in left; IC and XC in field above left and right; pellet to right of throne. Rev. Standing facing figures of John, wearing stemma with pendilia, loros and divitision, holding labarum and akakia, and crowning the emperor, the Theotokos, nimbate, wearing maphorium over chiton. D.O. 6; Sear 2073. AV. 2.33 g. 24.5 mm. Well centred and good example, with pleasant reddish hues. Good EF.