Byzantine coins. Copper coins with cross-above-head
Emperor Justinian I (527-565)
Organized by Sear number. Sear, Hahn, and this collection have none for Justinian alone from Nicomedia or Antioch.
Return to the pages on Anastasius or Justin. Return to the main page on cross-above-head coins.
Coins of the joint reign of Justin I and Justinian I are: at Constantinople, Sear 125-126B; at Nicomedia, Sear 127-128; and at Antioch, Sear 130-133. This page has examples of Sear 128 for Justin and Justinian from Nicomedia.
Copper coins of Justinian I at Constantinople are Sear 158-173, at Nicomedia they are Sear 198-206A, and at Antioch/Theopolis they are Sear 213-245. This page has examples of Sear 158, 159, 160, 161, 162, and 164 from Constantinople. Sear, Hahn, and this collection have none for Justinian alone from Nicomedia or Antioch.
Cross references (a concordance) to other collections
Justin I and Justinian I, joint reign (AD 527, April 4 - August 1).
Coins of the joint reign of Justin I and Justinian I are: at Constantinople, Sear 125-126B; at Nicomedia, Sear 127-128; and at Antioch, Sear 130-133. This page has examples of Sear 128 for Justin and Justinian from Nicomedia.
Sear 128 variety = Hahn 8 variety.
Crosses either side of M. Cross above. Officina number below. In ex: NIKM
Sear does not mention the cross above head. Sear 128 is illustrated without the cross-above-head. 40-nummia.
The cross is neither mentioned nor illustrated by Hahn 8 (plate 12). DO 12 neither mentions nor illustrates a cross-above-head.
Justin and Justinian. Nicomedia. Sear 128.
32-30 mm. 14.94 grams.
Cross above head visible.
B below M.
Unlisted. Unique with the cross-above-head.
Justin and Justinian. Nicomedia. Sear 128.
32 mm. 15.44 grams. 7:00.
Dots above head, possibly, but not clearly or certainly, the ends of a cross.
Officina B.
Note the obverse legend:
DN IVS ... -- NIVSTN AC
It is not nearly as clear as the previous example, but does begin the name
IVS twice, with Justin on the right side, which occurs only during the joint reign.
Justinian, sole reign.
Copper coins of Justinian I at Constantinople are Sear 158-173, at Nicomedia they are Sear 198-206A, and at Antioch/Theopolis they are Sear 213-245. This page has examples of Sear 158, 159, 160, 161, 162, and 164 from Constantinople. Sear, Hahn, and this collection have none for Justinian alone from Nicomedia or Antioch.
Constantinople mint.
Note: Sear 158-162A differ only in what is on either side of the M. *M+ is 158, +M+ is 159, *M* is 160, *M+ on globe is 161, *Mc is 162, chi-rhos on either side is 162A.
Sear 158, 159, 161, and 162 are listed "sometimes with cross above head." Sear 160 is not, but may have a wreath there.
___________________
Sear 158, illustrated. Hahn 842, illustrated, plate 18. 40-nummia.
Star to left and cross to right of M. Cross above. Officina number below M. In ex: CON
Sear says, "sometimes with cross above head." Hahn does not mention the cross, but illustrates it. DO 28, which neither mentions nor illustrates a cross-above-head.
Justinian. Constantinople. Sear 158.
30-29 mm. 15.57 grams.
Clear cross above head
Officina Gamma.
Justinian. Constantinople. Sear 158.
31-30 mm. 16.63 grams. 7:30.
Clear cross above head.
Officina Gamma.
Ex CNA (CNG) XIX lot 87. Feb. 19, 1992.
Justinian. Constantinople. Sear 158.
30-28 mm. 15.89 grams. 7:00.
Bold cross above head.
Officina Gamma.
Justinian. Constantinople. Sear 158.
30-29 mm. 16.10 grams.
Clear cross above head.
Officina number uncertain.
Inspecting the coin in hand it looks like it was never there,
but that is not certain.
30-28 mm. 14.87 grams. 11:30 (!!)
Weak, but certain, cross above head. Clearer on the coin itself.
Offincina Delta.
The obverse legend is not clear. Could this coin be of Justin?
Justinian. Constantinople. Sear 158.
30-29 mm. 17.72 grams. 6:30.
Clear cross above head--clearer on the coin itself.
Officina Epsilon.
Justinian. Constantinople. Sear 158.
30-28 mm. 16.04 grams. 6:30.
Clear cross above head.
Officina B.
Sear 159. Hahn 871, illustrated, plate 19. DO 29b.1, illustrated, plate XIV. 40-nummia.
Crosses left and right of M. Cross above. Officina number below M. In ex: CON
Sear says, "sometimes with cross above head." Sear 159 is not illustrated. 40-nummia. Hahn 87 says "sometimes with symbol on shoulder and/or cross on diadem and/or cross in field right." DO 29b1 and 2 mention "cross above head" and 29b1 illustrates it.
Justinian. Constantinople. Sear 159.
29-28 mm. 17.63 grams.
Clear cross above head, partially weak.
Officina epsilon xx.
Justinian. Constantinople. Sear 159.
29 mm. 16.72 grams.
Clear cross above head.
Officina epsilon.
Justinian. Constantinople. Sear 159.
29-28 mm. 16.27 grams.
Clear cross above head.
Officina epsilon xx weak
Justinian. Constantinople. Sear 159.
30-29 mm. 14.82 grams.
Clear cross above head.
Officina unclear, possibly epsilon
Justinian. Constantinople. Sear 159.
31-29 mm. 16.62 grams.
Clear cross above head.
Very weak officina number,
possibly delta or A.
Justinian. Constantinople. Sear 159.
30-29 mm. 17.20 grams. 6:30.
Clear cross above head.
Officina epsilon very weak.
Justinian. Constantinople. Sear 159
30 mm. 18.27 grams. 12:30.
Clear cross above head.
Officina Epsilon.
Sear 159 is common. More examples, generally in lesser condition, are here.
Sear 159 type variety. Hahn 873, illustrated, plate 19. 40-nummia.
As Sear 159 (with no cross above head) except with cross-rho low in obverse field right.
Sear 159 does not mention a symbol in the field and is not illustrated. Hahn 87, "sometimes with symbol on shoulder and/or cross on diadem and/or cross in field right." I think both Hahn 873 and the one below really have a cross-rho like this one (not a cross alone). DO 29 neither mentions nor illustates varieties with anything in the obverse right field.
Justinian. Constantinople. Sear 159.
29 mm. 16.36 grams. 5:30.
No cross above head.
Cross-rho low in obverse right field.
Officina epsilon.
Sear 160 type variety = Hahn 833, 834, and 835. 40-nummia.
Stars left and right of M, cross above. Officina number below. In ex: CON.
As Sear 160 but with cross on globe in obverse right field. (Not with cross above head.)
Sear 160 is not illustrated. Hahn 83, "sometimes with symbol on shoulder and/or right field." Hahn 833, 834, and 835 have the cross[-rho] in the field, but not on the globe.
DO neither mentions nor illustates varieties with anything in the obverse right field.
Justinian. Constantinople. Sear 160.
31 mm. 17.08 grams. 11:30.
No cross above head, but
clear cross on globe low in right field.
Officina Epsilon.
Justinian. Constantinople. Sear 160.
32-30 mm. 16.45 grams. 6:00.
No cross above head, but
clear cross in field, probably a cross-rho, but the top is weak.
Officina Epsilon.
Justinian. Constantinople. Sear 160.
30-29 mm. 16.11 grams. 6:00.
No cross above head, but
weak cross (or cross-rho) (on globe?) in obverse right field.
Officina Epsilon.
Sear 161. Hahn 85. 40 nummis.
Star to left and cross on globe to right of M. Officina number below. In ex: CON.
Sear says, "sometimes with cross above head." Sear 161 is not illustrated, 40 nummia.
Hahn 85 says "sometimes with symbol on shoulder and/or cross on diadem and/or chrismon in r. field." His three illustrated examples (plate 20) do not show the cross above head.
DO 31. DO 31a.2 mentions "cross on head" but it is not illustrated by 31.b1, the example on plate XIV.
Justinian. Constantinople. Sear 161.
30-29 mm. 17.84 grams.
Clear cross above head.
Officina A.
Justinian. Constantinople. Sear 161.
31 mm. 15.20 grams. 6:00.
Clear cross above head.
Officina uncertain.
Close inspection of the coin in hand suggests the barest outline of an A.
Sear 161 type variety (not with cross-above-head). Hahn 853, illustrated, plate 20. 40-nummia.
Star left and cross on globe right of M. Officina number below. In ex: CON
As Sear 161 except with cross in obverse right field.
Sear says, "sometimes with cross above head." Sear 161 is not illustrated. Hahn 85 says "sometimes with symbol on shoulder and/or cross on diadem and/or chrismon in r. field." Of his three examples. only 853 (in bad shape) shows a cross in the field.
DO 31 neither mentions nor illustates varieties with anything in the obverse right field.
Justinian. Constantinople. Sear 161.
29 mm. 15.49 grams. 6:00.
Cross in obverse right field.
It would be off the flan, but there is no cross above the head.
Officina Gamma
Justinian. Constantinople. Sear 161.
32-31 mm. 16.86 grams. 6:00.
No cross above head.
Very bold cross in field right.
Cross crossed at top, or very large serif. Odd.
Officina A (or Delta)
Sear 162. Hahn 88. 40-nummia.
Star to left, cresent to right of M. Cross above. Officina number below M. In ex: CON
Sear 162 is not illustrated. Sear says, "sometimes with cross above head." Hahn 88 says "sometimes with symbol on shoulder and/or cross on diadem and/or cross in field r." His four examples do not illustrate the cross-above-head. DO 32.1 and 32.3 mention "Cross on head" while 32.2 does not. DO 32 is not illustrated. (This probably means all three examples are in poor condition.)
Justinian. Constantinople. Sear 162.
30-29 mm. 16.10 grams.
Clear cross above head
Officina Epsilon.
Justinian. Constantinople. Sear 162.
30-27 mm. 17.80 grams.
Clear cross above head.
Officnian Epsilon.
Justinian. Constantinople. Sear 162.
31 mm. 18.52 grams.
Clear cross above head.
Officina Epsilon.
Justinian. Constantinople. Sear 162.
31 mm. 16.97 grams. 6:00.
Clear cross above head.
Officina very weak, possibly A.
Justinian. Constantinople. Sear 162.
29-27 mm. 15.00 grams. 6:00.
Bold cross above head.
Officina Epsilon.
Justinian. Constantinople. Sear 162.
30 mm. 16.58 grams. 6:00.
Is that not a cross, but a star, above the head?
Officina Epsilon.
Justinian. Constantinople. Sear 162.
29-28 mm. 17.06 grams. 5:30.
Weak, but definite cross above head, slightly more visible on the coin.
Officina Epsilon.
Sear 162 is common. More examples, generally in lesser condition, are here.
Sear 162 type variety = Hahn 884, illustrated, plate 19. As Sear 162 but with cross-rho in obverse right field.
Star to left, cresent to right of M. Cross above. Officina number below M. In ex: CON
Sear 162 is not illustrated and does not mention anything in the field. Hahn 88 says "sometimes with symbol on shoulder and/or cross on diadem and/or cross in field r." Of his four illustated examples one has a clear cross and one other perhaps a faint cross in the field.
DO does not have the basic type with crescent right and neither mentions nor illustates varieties with anything in the obverse right field. They are equally unlisted for Justin (It is very hard to tell from the legend if these examples belong to Justin or Justinian, but the lack of crosses in the field for pieces clearly of Justin and the existence of crosses in the field for Justinian, illustated above, suggests these are also of Justinian. A note to that effect is on the page on this site where they would be listed were they of Justin.)
Justinian. Constantinople. Sear 162.
31 mm. 17.44 grams. 12:00.
Cross-rho(?) in obverse right field.
Officina Epsilon.
Obverse legend unclear.
-- could this be Justin?
Note long downstrokes on the P's at 9:00.
Justinian. Constantinople. Sear 162.
31-30 mm. 15.14 grams. 6:00.
Clear cross-rho in obverse field right.
Officina Epsilon.
Obverse legend unclear.
-- could this be Justin?
Sear 164 variety. Hahn 90 variety. 20-nummia.
Cross to left of large K, stars above and below, officina number to right.
Sear does not mention the cross above head. Sear 164 is illustrated with a small irregularity at the end of the diadem, but without the cross-above-head.
Hahn 90 says "sometimes with symbol on shoulder and/or cross or chrismon in field right" He does not mention the possibility of the cross-above-head and his two illustrations do not show it.
DO 33, which neither mentions nor illustrates a cross-above-head.
Justinian. Constantinople. Sear 162.
24-22 mm. 9.22 grams. 6:00.
Clear cross above head.
Officina A.
Justinian. Constantinople. Sear 162.
25-23 mm. 11.21 grams. 6:30.
Weak cross above head.
Officina Gamma.
Nicomedia mint
None in this collection. None of the major references (Sear, Hahn, DO, BN, etc.) mention or illustrate any cross-above-head coins for Justinian at Nicomedia.
Antioch mint
None in this collection. None of the major references (Sear, Hahn, DO, BN, etc.) mention or illustrate any cross-above-head coins for Justinian at Antioch.
Sear 243 = Hahn 141. Sear 243 does not mention a cross-above-head and is illustrated without it. 5-nummia.
Hahn 141 does not mention a cross and Hahn 141, plate 27, does not have a cross-above-head (and the one below may not either.)
Epsilon with center as cross, officina number to right.
This type is attributed to Antioch, but is very similar to coins from Constantinople which merely lack the cross in the middle of the epsilon.
Justinian. Antioch. Sear 243.
17 mm. 1.77 grams. 6:00.
Weak mark above head with a clear horizontal line (the crossbar?) but the vertical is very weak and uncertain.
I do not regard this as a cross-above-head example, but illustrate it here anyway.
Officina A.
The end.
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Cross references (a concordance) to other collections