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HERITAGE: BYZANTINE ANCIENT COINSHeritage Auctions will be hosting their Byzantine Ancient Coins Showcase Auction on October 12. Select items are discussed below. -Garrett 
Phocas (AD 602-610). AV solidus (20mm, 4.50 gm, 7h). NGC MS 5/5 - 4/5. Constantinople, 10th officina, ca. AD 607-610. d N FOCAS-P?RP AVG, draped, cuirassed bust of Phocas facing, wearing crown surmounted by cross, globus cruciger in right hand / VICTORIA-AV?? I, Angel standing facing, grounded staff surmounted by staurogram in right hand, globus cruciger in outstretched left; CONOB in exergue. Sear 620.
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Heraclius with Heraclius Constantine (AD 613-641). AV solidus (20mm, 4.44 gm, 6h). NGC MS 5/5 - 4/5. Constantinople, 10th officina, ca. AD 626-629. dd NN h?RACLI?S ?T h?RA CONST PP AV, facing busts of Heraclius, bearded (on left), and Heraclius Constantine, slightly smaller and beardless (on right), both wearing chlamys and simple crown surmounted by cross; cross above between them / VICTORIA-AV?? I T, cross potent with base on three steps; CONOB below. Sear 746. Heraclius' reign began after he and his father, Heraclius the Elder, a prominent general, successfully revolted against Emperor Phocas in AD 608. After Heraclius killed Phocas in Constantinople, alliances easily shifted and he was crowned emperor in AD 610 - Heraclius the Elder dying soon after of natural causes. Heraclius quickly took control of the Byzantine-Sasanian War, turning the tides and defeating the Persians by AD 627. This was not without help from his eldest son, Heraclius Constantine, who was crowned co-emperor AD 613. Unfortunately, their victory would open the door for the Muslim Arab Caliphates, who used the Persians defeat to expand their territory. This would begin the Arab-Byzantine wars that would go on to last for three centuries. The reach of the Byzantines wanned, losing the Levant and most of Egypt to the Caliphates over the next decade. Shortly after, Heraclius would die of illness in AD 641, leaving Heraclius Constantine as sole emperor for three months before he too died of illness
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Irene, Sole Reign (AD 797-802). AV solidus (19mm, 4.40 gm, 5h). NGC Choice AU 3/5 - 4/5. Constantinople. ?IRIhH-bASILISSH, bust of Irene facing, wearing loros and crown with pendilia, two pinnacles, and cross in center, globus cruciger in right hand, transverse cruciform scepter in left / •-?IRIhH-bASILISSH T, bust of Irene facing, wearing loros and crown with pendilia, two pinnacles, and cross in center, globus cruciger in right hand, transverse cruciform scepter in left. Sear 1599.
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Nicephorus II Phocas (AD 963-969). AV histamenon nomisma (20mm, 4.38 gm, 6h). NGC Choice AU 5/5 - 2/5, scuffs, clipped, edge bend. Constantinople, AD 963-969. + IhS XIS R?X' R??NANTInm, bust of Christ facing, wearing nimbus cruciger with two pellets in top arm and three pellets in side arms, pallium and colobium, raising right hand in benediction, book of Gospels cradled in left arm / + T?OTOC' ? OHT nICHF d?SP, half-length facing busts of the nimbate Virgin (on left), wearing stola and maphorium, and Nicephorus II (on right), wearing loros and crown with pendilia and surmounted by cross, jointly holding patriarchal cross with pellet on shaft between them. Sear 1778 var. (M-T flanking Virgin Mary). One of the greatest generals of his age, Nicephorus Phocas led the armada that reclaimed Crete for Byzantium after 130 years of Arab rule. He followed up by annexing Cyprus and capturing Aleppo. These stupendous victories led the army, following the death of Romanus II in March AD 963, to acclaim Nicephorus as Emperor. Returning to Constantinople, he married Theophano, the widow of Romanus II, and proclaimed himself protector of her two young sons Basil II and Constantine VIII, who became subordinate Emperors. Nicephorus continued the offensive against the Caliphate, which fell back on all fronts before the disciplined Byzantine forces. Theophano, however, found him physically repulsive, remote and austere, and sought refuge in the arms of a dashing soldier, John Tzimisces. Together they plotted and carried out the murder of Nicephorus in December of AD 969. It is during this reign that the term "solidus" is replaced by "histamenon nomisma" as a name for the standard Byzantine gold coin. A second, slightly lighter denomination, the "tetarteron nomisma," was also introduced.
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Phocas (AD 602-610). AV solidus (20mm, 4.43 gm, 7h). NGC Gem MS 5/5 - 5/5. Constantinople, 10th officina, ca. AD 607-610. d N FOCAS-P?RP AVG, draped, cuirassed bust of Phocas facing, wearing crown surmounted by cross, globus cruciger in right hand / VICTORIA-AV?? I, Angel standing facing, grounded staff surmounted by staurogram in right hand, globus cruciger in outstretched left; CONOB in exergue. Sear 620. Ex Heritage Auctions, Auction 231350 (12 December 2013), lot 62188.
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Nicephorus I and Stauracius (AD 803-811). AV solidus (20mm, 4.42 gm, 6h). NGC MS 4/5- 3/5, brushed, light marks. Constantinople, AD 803-811. hICI-FOROS bASIL?', crowned facing bust of Nicephorus I, wearing mustache and short beard, chlamys pinned at right shoulder, cross potent with base in right hand, akakia in left; pellet in left field / StAVRA-CIS d?SPO' ?, crowned facing bust of Stauracius, beardless, chlamys pinned at right shoulder, globus cruciger in right hand, akakia in left. Sear 1604.
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