168, Lot: 283. Estimate $100. Sold for $440. This amount does not include the buyer’s fee.

Justinian I. 527-565. Æ Nummus (10mm, 0.57 g). Carthage mint. Dated RY 13 (539/40). IVSTI, diademed and draped bust right / VOT XIII within wreath. DOC I 302; SB 278. Good VF for type. Rare this nice.

It is extremely rare to encounter any readable legend on these Carthage nummi. It appears that by this point the Byzantines had forgotten the original meaning of the vota, and simply used it as a regnal year designator. Regnal years 13, 14, and 16 are known; the year 22 recorded in MIBE is probably an imitation.