Coins of the Byzantine Empire

Constans' reign saw an enormous growth in production from the western mints, especially Syracuse. This increase well-preceded his own move west. By Constans' reign, the inscriptions on the coinage were still broadly in Latin, though various Greek influences were appearing. For example, we now see the the use of the lower case Delta - δ - and T - τ.

Alexandria

	Æ dodecanummium of Alexandria, 641-642 & 645-646, 7.42g, 25mm, 170º. Obv. No legend. Constans standing facing, beardless, wearing crown and chlamys, and holding long cross with P with bar at top and globus cruciger. Rev. Large IB with cross potent on globe between; pellets in fields to either side; in ex., AΛЄZ. BMC 283-4 (Heraclius), DOC 105, Ratto 1320 (Heraclius), Sear 1027
These dates are the two periods during Constans' reign when the Byzantines held Alexandria.

Carthage

AV solidus of Carthage, 662-668, 4.29g, 11mm. Globule module.
Obv. DNCO NTA; Facing busts of Constans, with long beard and holding globus cruciger, and Constantine IV.
Rev. Constans younger sons, Heraclius and Tiberius, facing, each holding globus cruciger; between their heads, cross potent on three steps.
BN 9, DOC 126, MIB 73a, Ratto 1617, Sear 1044

AR ½ siliqua of Carthage, 641-647, 0.40g, 11mm, 225º.
Obv. (DN)COST ANT(PP); Bust facing, beardless, wearing chlamys, and crown with cross.
Rev. Cross potent on base.
DOC 130, Sear 1048

Æ follis of Carthage, 659-668.
Obv. Constans and Constantine IV facing, Constans with long beard, wearing cuirass and holding long cross in right hand, and Constantine, beardless and wearing chlamys and crown with cross.
Rev. Heraclius and Tiberius standing, each wearing chlamys, on either side of small M between with Sear monogram 35 above; below, KTς.
DOC 147, Sear 1055

Æ ½ follis of Carthage, 643-647.
Obv. (DN)CONST AN(VC); Facing bust of beardless, crowned Constans, holding globus cruciger.
Rev. Pellet border. Cross between two Xs; in ex., CRT(S)
DOC 139.1, Sear 1057

Æ ½ follis of Carthage, 647-659, 4.65g, 18mm, 170º.
Obv. Bust facing with short beard, wearing crown with trefoil ornament on circlet; in right hand, mappa; in left, globus cruciger.
Rev. DNCON TAIP; Large cross with C / X to left and T / X to right, all beneath star; pellets above letters. The C / T is the mintmark and the X / X the denomination.
DOC 144, Sear 1059

Æ ½ follis of Carthage, 659-668, 6.28g.
Obv. Facing busts of Constans, with long beard, and Constantine IV, each holding globus cruciger.
Rev. Facing busts of Heraclius and Tiberius, each holding globus cruciger; in ex., XX.
DOC 148, Sear 1062

Æ decanummium of Carthage, 643-647, 2.5g, 13mm. Obv. CONT(AN TINVSPPA); Beardless bust facing, wearing crown and chlamys and holding globus cruciger. Rev. Large cross with V on either side. DOC 141, Ratto 1579, Sear 1064
The two Vs are Latin numerals, and added together indicate the denominational value.

Constantinople

Constans II's copper issues of Constantinople are the poorest designed and struck pieces of the entire Byzantine series. As Grierson writes in Byzantine Coins: " Though the designs show a good deal of ingenuity and inventiveness ... the standard of striking was almost unbelievably bad: they represent perhaps the most slovenly work with which any numismatist will ever be brought into contact."

AV 23 siliqua solidus of Constantinople, 651-April 654, officina S, 3.10g, 17mm, 190º.
Obv. δNCONSτAN τINySPPAV; Facing bust with long beard and moustache, wearing crown and chlamys and holding globus cruciger.
Rev. VICTORI(A AV)GS; Cross potent on three steps; beneath, BOΓK (BO inversed OB; ΓK, 23 (G = 3, K = 20)).
Berk 157, DOC 24c, MIB 44, Sear 979

The curious reverse exergue inscription does not refer to some strange mint - unlike the bronze, Byzantine gold only very rarely bears a specific mintmark - but is actually serving notice that this is a reduced weight piece. Valued at twenty-three siliquae - BO being the inversed form of the pure gold signifier, OB, and GK being 23 (G = 3, K = 20) - or carats, rather than the usual twenty-four. (Earlier issues of the reign had OB. The reason or significance of the reverse is not known.) For a 6th century example, look at Maurice. There are various, though all inconclusive, theories about the purpose of these light solidii, seen in units of 20, 22 and 23 carats from Justinian I to Justinian II. John Smedley, in Seventh Century Byzantine Coins in Southern Russia and the Problem of the Light-Weight Solidii in Studies in Early Byzantine Gold Coinage, Numismatic Studies no. 17, reviews some of the various proposals put forward over the years, and finds none incontrovertible. The earlier examples, from Justinian through to the middle-years of Heraclius, have appeared mainly in hordes along the Rhine, to Frisia in southern Germany, and in eastern England. This has led Hendy, Grierson and others to speculate that they were originally introduced to facilitate trade with the Germanic tribes and that the light-weight conformed more closely to some pre-existing Germanic weight measure. After this period, they appear much less frequently in Western Europe and are found in greater abundance in the steppes of southern Russia and the northern Balkans. Since it seems unlikely these would have found their way here by trade, Grierson, Hendy and Smedley all conclude that these found their way north through the tribute paid originally by Heraclius, but later also probably by Constans, to various Avars, Bulgars and other northern peoples. As to why these light-weight solidii should have been used, rather than regular weight issues, there seems to be no single satisfactory argument. Since the coins are clearly marked as being different, and the barbarians were not that far removed from civilization as to be so easily gulled, it can plainly not have been to deceive. Unless, as has been suggested, the coins in western Europe came there through tribute rather than trade, and for some unknown reason these coins were used as a standard for buying off barbarians. This would explain the relative paucity of finds within the heartlands of the empire.

AR hexagram of Constantinople, 641-647, 6.60g, 22.26mm, 180º. Obv. dNCONSTAN TINUSPPAVG; Constans facing in bust, standing beardless, crowned and wearing chlamys, holding cross on globe. Rev. dEUS(A)DIUTAROMANUS; Cross potent on globe set on three steps. DOC 48, Ratto 1540, Sear 988
There is a version of this, identical but for the head being smaller, which DOC attributes to Heraclonas.

	Æ follis of Constantinople, 641-642, officina A, 2.46g, 22mm. Obv. (ЄNTUTO) NIKA (In this sign conquer); Constans, beardless, standing facing, holding sceptre and globus. Rev. Large M, cross above; A /N / A and N / Є / O / ς flanking; below, AI Berk 648, DOC 59a, Sear 1000
The use of the legendary command of Christ from Constantine's dream – "In this sign conquer"- is an interesting innovation of Constans' reign. The reverse inscription, ANANЄOς is an abbreviation of ananeosis - 'Renewal'. The letters AI are a concatenation of the officina and year.

Æ follis of Constantinople, 643-644, officina A, 5.44g, 23mm.
Obv. IηPЄRCONSτ; Bust facing, beardless, wearing crown and chlamys and holding globus cruciger.
Rev. Large (M) between A / N / A to left, and regnal indicator I / II; beneath, officina number A. In ex., N(ЄOΓ).
BN 1, DOC 5a (Heraclonas), MIB 166, Sear 1004

In DOC II, published in 1968, Grierson attributes this type to Heraclonas, being of 641. However, by 1982's Byzantine Coins he had admitted he was incorrect, as examples clearly overstruck on coins of the first two years of Constans' reign had come to light. He then states his belief that no bronze coinage of Heraclonas was struck at Constantinople. The ANA where the ususal ANNO would be couples with the NЄOΓ in place of the mintmark to spell, abbreviated slightly, anaeosis - 'renewal'.

	Æ follis of Constantinople, 647-648, officina Δ, 22mm. Obv. ЄNTOTO (NI)KA (In this sign conquer); Constans, with short beard, standing facing, wearing crown and chlamys and holding long cross and globus cruciger. Rev. Large M between A / N / A and N / Є / O; above, cross; in ex., ζIΔ. DOC 66e, Sear 1005
The reverse inscription, ANANЄO is an abbreviation of ananeosis - 'Renewal'.

Æ follis of Constantinople, 655-658, officina Є, 22mm.
Obv. No legend. Constans, with long beard and holding long cross, and Constantine IV, beardless and holding globus cruciger, stand facing; Constans wears military attire, whilst Constantine wears crown and chlamys. Between their heads, cross.
Rev. Large M between A / N / N / (O) and regnal numerals X / (..); beneath, Є; above, cross; in ex., CO(N).
DOC 79, Sear 1010

Sear records this type and officina for years fifteen, sixteen and seventeen.

Æ follis of Constantinople, 661-664, officina Є, 2.84g, 23mm, 180º.
Obv. No legend. Constans standing facing with long beard, wearing helmet and military dress and holding long cross in his right hand; to left, unintelligible regnal year; to right, M with cross above and officina indicator Є below.
Rev. Constans three sons - Constantine IV, Heraclius and Tiberius - standing facing, wearing crowns with crosses, chlamyses and holding globus crucigers, each in his right hand.
Sear 1011

Æ follis of Constantinople, 666-668, 4.04g, 21.5mm.
Obv. Bust of Constans facing with long beard, wearing plumed helmet without cross ornament on top, and holding globus cruciger; in field to right, K, (representing his initial).
Rev. M surmounted by facing bust of Constantine IV, in centre, with his brothers on either side: Heraclius to left and Tiberius to right. They each wear crown and chlamys and hold a globus cruciger. To right of M is illegible officina.
DOC 89d, Sear 1014

	Æ ½ follis of Constantinople, 641–c.646, officina A, 16mm. Obv. No legend. Bust facing, beardless, wearing crown and chlamys, and holding globus cruciger. Rev. Large K; to left, (A)/ N / A; to right, N / Є; beneath, officina number A. DOC 91, Sear 1016
The reverse inscription, ANANЄ is an abbreviation of ananeosis - 'Renewal'.

Æ ½ follis of Constantinople, 660-668, officina Є, 21mm. Obv. Facing bust, wearing crown with cross ornament, and long beard, and holding globus cruciger; to right, (K). Rev. Large K; to right, appears to be an I, though references list an N; to left, (A / N ) / A; officina indicator Є beneath. DOC 95d, Sear 1020
The reverse inscription, ANA, is an abbreviation of ananeosis - 'Renewal'.

Syracuse

Constans' reign saw an enormous growth in production from the western mints, especially, Syracuse. This increase well preceded his own move west.

Æ follis of Syracuse, 652-653, 27.5mm. Overstruck on large flan of type SB 178, of 650-651. SCL mintmark and vertical bar of M visible at 1 o'clock on reverse; top of crown and cross visible at 11 o'clock on obverse.
Obv. Constans standing facing, with very long beard, wearing crown and chlamys, and holding globus cruciger; to left, I / N / Δ; to right, I / A (11th Indiction = 652-653).
Rev. Large M with cross above and SCL beneath.
DOC 179, Sear 1108

Æ follis of Syracuse, 659-668, 20mm. Does not appear to be an overstrike, as is usual for this issue.
Obv. Constans stands on left, in military garb and holding long staff, with beardless Constantine IV on right, each wearing crown and chlamys and holding globus cruciger.
Rev. Large M; above Sear monogram 35; in exergue, SCL. To left stands facing beardless Heraclius, wearing crown and chlamys and holding globus cruciger; to right, similar figure of Tiberius.
Berk 697, DOC 181, Sear 1110

Æ decanummium of Syracuse, 650-652, 17mm.
Obv. Bust facing, with long beard, wearing chlamys and crown with cross. To left, cross of globus cruciger just visible.
Rev. Large I, with A / N to left, and N / O / I to right.
DOC 185, Sear 1115

DO calls these "poorly designed" as Constans' hand holding the globus cruciger is absent from the design. Sear and DO differ on the dating for this issue: Sear takes the I (for the Greek numeral iota, 10) to signify the 10th indiction year of Constans' reign, i.e. 650-651; DO interprets it more simply as the tenth regnal year, thus 651-652. The length of Constans' beard precludes the coin from being of the first year of his reign.