The Gold Section, Ancient Coins

Constans II (AD 641-668), solidus, Constantinople, VICTORIA AVςЧ Є+, facing bust with long beard, wearing plumed helmet and chlamys, holding globus cruciger, rev. Constantine IV in centre, flanked by Heraclius to r., and Tiberius to l., in ex. CONOB, wt. 4.33gms. (Sear 974), extremely fine
A fascinating and rare type, showing the emperor to the obverse, and with the princes to the reverse. The emperor came to the throne as co-emperor at just 11 years old. He wasn’t entirely successful as a military leader, he was defeated at the battle of Phoenix in 655 and was forced to accept treaties from the Arab general Mu’awiya. He was more successful against the Slavs, but was rather unpopular within the kingdom, as he increased taxation. He was also unpopular ecclesiastically, as he confiscated church property and issued his Typos in 648. In this, he forbade arguments about the longstanding controversial questions of the divine and human natures of Christ (see footnote to previous lot). The Pope condemned this, an act which resulted in Constans exiling the Pope. He also exiled the theologian Maximus the Confessor, and he alienated the Pope Vitalian in 668. Eventually, Constans II was murdered in the bath, by one of his attendants.