Leontius. 695-698. AV Solidus (18mm, 4.14 g, 6h). Syracuse mint, 9th officina. Near EF.

CNG Feature Auction 124
Lot: 747. Estimated: $ 2 000

Byzantine, Gold

Sold For $ 3 000. This amount does not include the buyer’s fee.

Go to Live

Leontius. 695-698. AV Solidus (18mm, 4.14 g, 6h). Syracuse mint, 9th officina. Crowned facing bust, wearing loros, holding akakia and globus cruciger / Cross potent set on three steps; four pellets in left field, I to right; Θ//CONOB. DOC 13; MIB 9; Anastasi 290; SB 1340. Minor die breaks, clipped in flan preparation. Near EF. Very rare.

Under Justinian II the weight standard for solidi at Syracuse was reduced from 4.5 to approximately 4.1 grams. Syracuse solidi from this time often exhibit clipping from flan preparation. This ‘clipping’ should not be confused with that which occurred in circulation and was likely done at the mint to bring down the weight of these flans to the new standard. Grierson writes in DOC II.1 that “by the time of Justinian II ... a different weight standard, in the region of 4.10 g, [was] adopted, and ... maintained in subsequent reigns ... The later coins themselves have often what appear to be clipped edges, but this clipping may have been done before the coins left the mint and perhaps even before they were struck” (DOC p. 16).

The final winners of all CNG Feature Auction 124 lots will be determined during the live online sale that will be held on 19-20 September 2023. This lot is in Session Three, which will begin 20 September at 9 AM ET.

Winning bids are subject to a 22.5% buyer's fee for bids placed on this website and 25% for all others.

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