JESUS CHRIST ON ANCIENT COINS

 

Justinian II, Part 1
Justinian II came to the throne in 685 at the age of 16. Heraclius, who ruled 610-41, was his great-great grandfather. Justinian's early coinage was conventional, bearing his portrait (often beautifully executed by a talented master engraver) on the obverse and a cross on steps reverse. But in 692 he introduced an extraordinary innovation: placing a bearded, long-haired portrait of Christ on the obverse of the coin, with the Latin inscription "Jesus Christ, King of Those Who Reign" (IHS CRISTOS REX REGNANTIUM).

 
Justinian II, first reign (685-95 CE). AV solidus

This image, often described as Christ Pantocrator ("ruler of all things") ultimately derives from the gold and ivory statue of Zeus in the temple at Olympia, created by the sculptor Phidias circa 435 BCE. The reverse depicts the standing figure of the emperor with the inscription "Justinian Servant of Christ".

This remarkable change in the coinage may have been a gesture of defiance toward the Muslims, who recognized Jesus as a prophet, but rejected His divinity. Examples of this famous coin, even if poorly struck and off-center, are in high demand. High-quality specimens typically bring $5,000 or more at auction. On Harlan Berk's list of the 100 Greatest Ancient Coins, this type is #77 (Berk, 114). Fractional denominations were struck with the same design (the semissis worth half a solidus and the tremissis worth a third) but are quite scarce.

Justinian II, Part 2
Overthrown in a palace coup in 695, Justinian's nose was mutilated and he was exiled to a remote outpost in the Crimea. Mutilation was considered more humane than execution since it supposedly rendered the victim permanently ineligible for the throne.

In exile, Justinian has his nose repaired by an itinerant surgeon, formed an alliance with the pagan Bulgars, married a princess of the pagan Khazars, and plotted his return to power, which he accomplished in 705. Justinian's second reign was a reign of terror, during which he took ferocious vengeance on his opponents.

There was another dramatic change in the coinage, for reasons unknown.

 
Justinian II, second reign (705-11 CE), with Tiberius. AV solidus.

A new portrait of Christ, with short curly hair and a short beard appeared on the obverse. This "Syrian" image was said to derive from a portrait painted from life by the apostle Luke. The reverse bears Justinian's face (with a perfectly normal-looking nose) and a new Latin inscription: "Justinian, Many Years". Shortly afterward, Justinian added the image of his young son Tiberius to the reverse; between them they hold a cross. Both types of Justinian's second reign solidus are scarce, but being in less demand they are somewhat more affordable. On Berk's list of the 100 greatest ancient coins, this is #93 (Berk, 115).

Overthrown by a military coup on November 4, 711, Justinian and his son were executed. The coinage returned to the conventional cross-on-steps reverse for over a century, during the period of the "Iconoclast Controversy".

To read the complete article, see:
Jesus Christ on Ancient Coins (https://coinweek.com/jesus-christ-on-ancient-coins/)

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