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Tiberius II Constantine Gold Solidus, obverse

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Byzantine

Tiberius II Constantine Gold Solidus

Tiberius II Constantine · Early Byzantine Empire

Tiberius II’s solidus sets a frontal emperor against the cross potent, reducing imperial ideology to two enduring signs: ruler and faith.

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Object number
AG-048
Date
AD 578–582
Denomination
AV Solidus
Material
Gold
Weight
4.32 g
Grade
MS · Strike 5/5 · Surface 4/5 · clipped
Certification
NGC Ancients

Record completeness

Evidence, made visible

  • Object identityDocumented
  • Physical recordPartly documented
  • AttributionPartly documented
  • Legends & imageryNot recorded
  • ProvenanceNot recorded

The Story Behind the Strike

Tiberius II Constantine ruled only briefly, from 578 to 582, after serving as Caesar during the failing health of Justin II. His reign faced costly war and mounting pressure on several frontiers. The gold solidus nevertheless speaks in the calm, controlled vocabulary expected of imperial currency. A formal facing portrait asserts uninterrupted command; the reverse cross potent rises on steps as a compact emblem of Christian empire. The clipped edge is part of the object’s later circulation history and contrasts with the ideal completeness of its official design.

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