ANASTASIUS II ARTEMIUS (713-715). Hexagram. Constantinople.

Obv: ∂ N ARTЄMIЧS ANASTASIЧS MЧL.
Crowned and draped bust facing, holding globus cruciger and akakia.
Rev: VICTORIA AVGЧ Δ / CONOB.
Cross potent on three steps.

MIB 27; DOC -; Sear 1468A.

Extremely rare

Struck with solidus dies of Sear 1463. Artemius was an imperial secretary during the reign of Philippicus before overthrowing him in 713, ascending the throne as Anastasius II. He immediately took an oath of orthodoxy to move away from the religious views of his predecessor, of monothete faith, in order to realign with tradition. Foreign policy posed a greater danger, as the Arabs were expanding into Asia Minor in the absence of a solid Byzantine dynasty. Anastasius thus organised a great naval expedition to Rhodes, but an internal betrayal led to his defeat and the rebels appointed a new emperor, a tax collector named Theodosius. Anastasius then faced a civil war, which ended after six months when the rebels prevailed with the help of the Ostrogoths. The emperor was forced to become a monk, but continued to plot to regain his throne, trying to gain the help of the Bulgarian Khan. His attempt came to an end with his assassination in 720, during the reign of Leo III, Theodosius' successor.

Condition: Very fine.

Weight: 2.90 g.
Diameter: 20 mm.