The two Justinianic light-weight solidi the Barber possesses from this group of coins were ‘said to have come from a hoard of some 300 similar pieces in South Russia found after 1914 war and all but 30 or so subsequently melted’. Unfortunately, there seems to be little other evidence about it, such as where in South Russia. As these coins were acquired by Philip Whitting in 1957 when they arrived in London, after coming from Paris before that, what is likely meant is south of the Soviet Union, which could be anywhere from just north of the Danube, to the Crimea, to the Caucasus.

That these are lightweight solidi is consistent with finds of Byzantine coins in the territories of what was their northern neighbours. They may represent trade, but more likely diplomatic gifts paid to stop the northern neighbours from attacking the Byzantines, or, especially if this was from the Caucasus, bribed to attack the Sasanians instead.

Though unfortunate, that so many of these coins were apparently melted down is not altogether surprising if one considers the context of the time they were reputedly found.

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