Preview
Geography
Constantinople
Culture
Byzantine
Medium
Bronze
Dimensions
37 mm
0.78 oz. (22.17 g)
Credit Line
Bequest of David P. Harris ('46), 2020
Accession Number
2020.454.30
Provenance
Purchased by David P. Harris; source and date unknown.
Signatures, Inscriptions, and Markings
obverse: CONSTAVG
References
Grierson, Philip. 1968. Catalogue of the Byzantine Coins in the Dumbarton Oaks Collection and in the Whittemore Collection, Volume 2, Phocas to Theodosius III, 602–717. Washington DC: Dumbarton Oaks Research Library and Collection.
Description
This is a replica of a Byzantine follis, modeled after coins of the 6th-8th centuries. The obverse depicts a front-facing bust of an emperor, who may be Heraclius Constantine, Constans II, or Constantine IV-VI. This is assumed from the obverse inscription, which reads with an abbreviation for "Constantine Augustus."
The bust is nimbate and wearing a plumed helmet (toupha). The emperor also holds a spear across his chest.
The reverse of this coin is the reverse follis type between the 6th-8th centuries, with a large M indicating the denomination. It also has a mint mark for the mint at Constantinople. Unlike real follis' of the time, the inscriptions indicating the year on the left and right of the coin replica are switched-- no follis exists that reads ANNO on the right side, rather than the left.
Sonia Suben 2025
Reverse view