Description:  Obverse: Bust of Justinian I wearing cuirass, paludamentum (military cloak) and diadem.

Reverse: I (mark of value, 10 nummi) surmounted by cross. Justinian came to power in 527 as co-emperor to his uncle, the ailing Justin I. When Justin died a few months later Justinian became sole emperor. Today Justinian is best known for his attempts to reconquer the western provinces of the Roman Empire, his codification of Roman law, and the building of Hagia Sophia in Istanbul.

Inscriptions / Translations:  Obverse: DNIVSTINI ANVSPPAVC (Our Lord Justinian Eternal Augustus)

Reverse: I (mark of value), ANNO to left, XIII (regnal year) to right, CON (mint mark of Constantinople) in exergue.

Bibliography:  Bellinger, A.R. Catalogue of the Byzantine Coins in the Dumbarton Oaks Collection and in the Whittemore Collection (Washington D.C. 1966) coin 77
Grierson, P. Byzantine Coins (London 1982) pp43-83.
Whitting, P.D. Byzantine Coins (London 1973) pp106-111

1 Related People & Organizations