Maurice, coins of Cherson

Maurice (582-602),
including coins often attributed to Justin II and Sophia (565-578) and sometimes to Tiberius II (578-582) or Phocas (602-610).

Note: Justin II and Sophia: The attribution of "H" types with obverse legend "XEPCONOC" to Justin II by Anokhin and Hahn is rejected here in favor of attribution to Maurice, as in Dumbarton Oaks and Sear. My reasons are given here. However, most dealers are now using the attribution to Justin II (even though the arguments for it are very weak).

Maurice (582-602) [Types 13-16 are in the name of the city, Cherson. Types 17-18 are in the name of Maurice]

Type ES13, XEPCωNOC, M (Sear 603) [Note the ω form, later an O]

Type ES13
AE32-30. 6:00. 12.38 grams.
All figures nimbate. No cross between the obverse heads.
XEPCω-NOC
Sear 603. Anokhin 315. (13.69 grams).
Very rare

Type ES13
30 mm. 7:00. 14.57 grams.
XEP-CωNOC
All figures nimbate. No cross between the obverse heads.

Sear 603. Anokhin 315 (13.69 grams).
Very rare.

Type ES14
23 mm. 7.24 grams.
XEP-CONOC
Sear 608
A316. Hahn II 162 "Justin II"
DO I Maurce (298) not in DOI, page 373.
[Extremely rare]

Type ES15: XEPCONOC, H (Sear 605 and 606)

Note: Sear 605 and 606 are very similar and assigned here the same type-number, ES15. They both have the obverse legend "XEP-CωNOC" and the same design, only with minor differences which are meaningless, in my opinion.
Sear 605 has "XEP-CωNOC" and the three figures nimbate (with a halo)
(and his illustration shows no cross between the heads on the obverse, but the description has a cross), and
Sear 606 has "XEP-CωNOC" and the three figures not nimbate with a cross between the heads on the obverse.
There are examples which are nimbate on the obverse and not-nimbate on the reverse which can be numbered Sear 605/606.
(Sear 607 has the name of Maurice and not "XEP-CωNOC". It also has the obverse figures raised on a dias, but is otherwise the same.)

References: All three figures nimbate without a cross [Sear 605, Maurice. A 317 Justin II. DO Maurice 299.3 (of 3). MIB II Justin II 158c. Sokolova III.4, III.5, and V.6. HahnNCirc 16. First coin below]
All three figures not nimbate with a cross [Sear 606 (no photo). MIB II Tiberius II 158b, plate 17 and Phocas 158a, plate 38 (these two are not distinguished, but the MIB II example for Phocas is illustrated as smaller, even though the weight standard is recorded as the same. The examples below are slightly larger in diameter than his photos. Sokolova V.3, 4, and 5. HahnNCirc 13, maybe 15 as well which might be nimbate--it is hard to tell.]
All three figures nimbate with a cross [DO 300.2, Maurice, plate LXXX (the cross is hard to see; Grierson 161 for Maurice. Sokolova III.6. HahnNC 14.
The BNC has no examples of any of these "H, XEPCONOC" pieces and cites DO.
There are examples with the obverse figures nimbate and the reverse figure not (with a cross between the obverse heads) [Third coin below.]

Type ES15
33 mm. 14.69 grams.
XEP-CONOC
Sear 605 (All figures nimbate, no cross between obverse heads)
DO I, Maurice 299.3, plate LXXX
(DO 300 has figures not nimbate)
Sokolova III. 5, and similar to 4 and 6, as well.

Sear 605/606

Type ES15
30-28 mm. 6:00. 10.70 grams.
XEP-CONO
As above, but nimbate/not nimbate.
Sear Byz 605/606 (because the reverse is not nimbate).
Apparently a minor variety.
Anokhin 317 variety -- the reverse is not nimbate.
Sokolova V.3-4 are crowned, not nimbate on either side.
Hahn, N Circ 1978 has four examples, all nimbate.

Not nimbate, with cross, Sear 606:

Type ES15
29-26 mm. 6:30. 11.15 grams.
XEP-...
Figures not nimbate.
Anokhin 318-319
Sear 606 (no figures nimbate, cross between obverse heads)
Sokolova 3.7

Type ES15
32-29 mm. 10.81 grams. 6:00.
Sear 606 (figures not nimbate)
Anokin 320.
DO I 300, plate LXXX (not nimbate, 10.62 g)

Obverse die match with Sokolova V.3 (Note the "R" for "P" in "XER")

Type ES15 with a countermark of Heraclius:

Type ES15 with large countermark of Heraclius
Sear 605 (nimbate) with countermark of Heraclius
(Sear monogram 32)
XEP ...
30-26 mm. 13.70 grams.
Figures nimbate.Sokolova VI.2 has this countermark on this type, also in almost this position.
The DO example of Heraclius 311 (type ES19) has this countermark.

Type ES15 with large countermark of Heraclius

Sear 605/606 (reverse figure not nimbate)
with countermark of Heraclius
(Sear monogram 32)
XEP ...
33-27 mm. 11.31 grams.

Sokolova VI.2 has this countermark on this type.
The DO example of Heraclius 311 (type ES19) has this countermark.

Type ES16, XEPCONOC, Δ (Sear 610)

Type ES16
24 mm. 6:30. 7.01 grams. Extremely nice condition.
XEP-CONOC
All figures nimbate. Reverse figure holds long sceptre with cross-rho on top.
Sear 610. Anokhin 318-319, closer to 318 (5.85 g, 6.90 g)
DO I 301 (5.03 g). Hahn NC 1978 17
Sokolova III.7
Grierson 10.163 (5.03 g)

Type ES16
24 mm. 6:00. 7.05 grams.
XEP-CONOC
Sear 610. Anokhin 318-319.

XEPONOOC, Δ (Sear 610 variety--not nimbate)

Type ES16
Irregular shape 26-20 mm. 6:30. 6.07 grams.
...-CONOC
Sear 610v "Maurice". Variety with figures not nimbate.
Anokhin 318-9 are both nimbate.
Hahn NCirc 1978, figures 17 and 24 are not nimbate.
The October issue, p. 472, mentions in the text a non-nimbate
variety as "Type II", one of three types.

Note: Sear distinguishes two XEP-CONOC "H" varieties (605 and 606) based on whether they are nimbate or not but does not do the same for corresponding the "Δ" varieties (only 610).

Types ES17 and ES18, in the name of Maurice, with H (Sear 607) or Δ (Sear 611).

Type ES17
31-30 mm. 12:00. 13.22 grams.
All figures nimbate, cross between obverse heads.
(Pieces in the name of Maurice are always nimbate.)
Sear 607. Anokhin 320 variety with figures on dias,
as Sokolova IV.4 and Hahn NC (1978) 21-22.
Obverse legend: DN MAV- RIC PP AVG
This has the obverse legend given in Anokhin, who has only one example.

Type ES17
32-30 mm. 6:00. 11.45 grams.
Sear 607. Anokhin 320 variety with figures on dias,
as Sokolova IV.4 and Hahn NC (1978) 21-22.
The "dias" on this example is two lines, unlike the previous example, which has a solid dias.
Obverse legend: DN MAVRC [sic] - AVS [G?] PP AV
somewhat like the ideal legend, but missing an "I" between "R" and "C", and it ends "AV" instead of "AVG".
Sear gives the legend incorrectly, "PP AVG AVG or similar."

The obverse legend would be odd if it really had "AVG" attempted twice, although the "S" form could be a Byzantine "G", which would yield the second "AVG". Here is my speculation. Maurice's name could be rendered "MAVRICVS" and I wonder if that is represented here by "MAVRCAVS", which would not be the same spelling, but not far from the correct pronunciation.

Type ES17
30 mm. 6:00. 11.70 grams.
Sear 607. Anokhin 320 variety with figures on dias,
(fully raised, not just outlined)
as Sokolova IV.4 and Hahn NC (1978) 21-22.
Obverse legend: DN MAV- AVS [G?] PP AV

Type ES18, Sear 611, Δ

Type ES18
Irregular shape. 27-20 mm, 12:00, 5.32 grams.
Sear 611. Anokhin 321.
Obverse legend similar to A321: DN M - RI PP A [blundered, with letters missing] which is shorter than the legend usually given in references. The legend given in references is a full version of what is presumed to be the intended legend, but not what is really found on the coins.

Continue with the next page--images of the earliest cast coins of Cherson.

Return to the images of the previous page, Justin I and Justinian.

Return to the main page on Byzantine coins of Cherson.

ES13 30	two figures XEPCWNOC	figure, M	A315 So3.1-2	S603 LD Maurice	B357	G162	DO I: LXXX 297.1-2	The obverse legend is "XEPCWNOC" in contrast to ES17 where is has the name of Maurice but is otherwise similar. Sabatier's line drawing of this type with legend DNMAV.... for Maurice, reproduced in Sear, has been proven by Sidorenko to accidentally combine drawings of two different coins. The M type with legend of Maurice, Sear 604, does not exist.
ES14 24	two figures XEPCWNOC	figure, K	A316 So3.3	S608 Maurice	B359	G--	(298)	The obverse legend is "XEPCWNOC" Sear 609, this type but with legend "DMMAV...", does not exist. A--, B--, DO --, A--, B--, DO --, Hahn --.
ES15 30	two figures XEPCONOC	figure, H	A317 So3.4-6 So5.3-6	S605, S606 Maurice	B356 Hahn Justin II 158 Tiberius II 158 Phocas 158	G161	299.3, 300.2 6 pieces, slight variants	Sear 605 and 606 are very similar. Sear 605 has all three figures nimbate and no cross between the obverse heads Sear 606 has them not nimbate and a cross between the obverse heads There are other varieties (see below) Sokolova 6.2 is this type with a Heraclius monogram countermark Hahn, MIB II spreads these across Justin II, Tiberius II, and Phocas. See here for why I disagree.
ES16 24	two figures XEPCONOC	figure, Δ	A318 319 So3.7	S610 LD (rev only) Maurice	B358 Hahn Justin II 161 Phocas 161	G163	DO 301	There are later cast imitations See below. Hahn does not give any Δ pieces to Tiberius II.
ES17 30	two figures DNMA...	figure, H	A320 So4.1-4	S607	B458 LD	G--	DO I, 303.2 3 pieces	All figures nimbate, cross between heads on the obverse
ES18 25	two figures DNMA...	figure, Δ	A321 So5.1-2	S611	B460	G--	DO--	There are later smaller cast imitations with Δ See below.