Year 3 (III). 20. The coinage of Syria under Persian occupation (610-630).
Abbreviations used are (tc): this coin; (Ppc): Pottier 20.4. plate coin; (Pcc): Pottier categorisation code. P. (Rev.) 4a (tc).
6.52 gms. 000. Class I; Consular bust of Phocas. 1994.14.
Year 2 (II).
20.1 (15.82).* P. (2004) 2.3 (tc). Year 4 (II/II).
11.87 gms. 140. 507.95.1
20.5. P. (Rev.) 8b.2 (tc).
8.51 gms. 180. 3 1935.13. Class II(1); Phocas and Leontia (m).
Year 2 (II).
20.2. P. (Comp.) 3.8 (tc).
10.09 gms. 010. 190.06.2 20.6.* Pcc 7, 4a-1. 8.25 gms. 000. 1600b.11.
20.3. P. (2004) 3.2 (Ppc). 9.01 gms. 020. 322.90.
278
20.7. 20.11. P. (2004) 8 (tc). P. (2004) 10.4 (tc).
6.76 gms. 330. 8.19 gms. 210. 429.93. 359a.90.
(Þ III Year 9 / /¡).
20.8.* P. (Comp.) 8c.1 (tc). 6.87 gms. 200.
1042.06.
20.12.
P. (2004) 13.1 (Ppc). 15.27 gms. 220. 516.95.
Year 5 (Š/III).
20.9.* P. (2004) 10.2 (tc).
13.55 gms. 230. 578.96.
20.13. P. (2004) 13.2 (Ppc). 13.37 gms. 190. 517.95.
20.10. P. (Rev.) 10.5 (tc).
8.56 gms. 010. 1549.11.
279
Class II(1); Phocas and Leontia (m).
Year 9 (Þ/III/¡).
20.17. P. (Rev.) 14.2 (tc). 13.12 gms. 140. 5 1583.11. 20.14. P. (2004) 13.3 (tc). 11.48 gms. 090. 359n.90.
Year 8 (Þ/II).
20.18. 20.15. P. (2004) 15.1 (Ppc).
P. (Rev.) 11a.2 (tc). 9.34 gms. 090.
8.27 gms. 220. 518.95. 1952.13.4
Class II(2); Phocas and Leontia (M).
Year 7 (1/I). 20.19. P. (2004) 15.1 (Ppc).
9.19 gms. 330.
519.95.
20.16.* P. (2004) 14 (Ppc).
9.00 gms. 000. 636.99.
280
Year 14 (X/IIII).
20.23.
Pcc 22a.3. 20.20.* 10.48 gms. 050. P. - . 2062.14.7 14.48 gms. 220. 1996.14.
Year 15 (X/III/II). 20.24. P. (Rev.) 22b (tc). 7.07 gms. 220. 1581.11.
20.21. P. (2004) 16.3 (tc). MIB x35.
10.18 gms. 000. 298.89.6
20.25.
P. (2004) 22.1 (Ppc).
Year 20 (XX). 7.13 gms. 160. 530.95.
Year 8 (1/II). 20.22.
P. (Rev.) 17.2 (tc). 8.60 gms. 340. 1932.13.
20.26. P. (2004) 26.1 (Ppc).
MIB x33. 8.13 gms. 070.
426.93. Class IV(1); Heraclius and Heraclius Constantine (m).
Year 4 (II/II).
281
Class IV(1); Heraclius and Heraclius Constantine (m).
Year 8 (1/II). 20.30.* P. (2004) 32.2 (tc).
5.16 gms. 270. 470.95.
20.27. P. (2004) 26.3 (tc).
8.16 gms. 090. 523.95.
20.31. P. (2004) 32.4 (Ppc).
Class IV(2); Heraclius and Heraclius Constantine 12.46 gms. 040. (M). 367.90.
Year 4 (II/II).
20.28.
P. (2004) 29.1 (Ppc).
7.70 gms. 200.
359p.90. 20.32. P. (2004) 32.5 (tc). 5.81 gms. 150. 457.95.
Year 5 (II/III).
Year 8 (1/II).
20.29.
P. (2004) 30.1 (Ppc).
MIB x32 (plate coin).
10.40 gms. 200.
524.95. 20.33. P. (2004) 32 (Ppc). 9.72 gms. 040. 527.95.8
Year 7 (1/I).
282
20.34. 20.38. P. (Rev.) 34a (tc). P. (2004) 37.3 (Ppc).
8.43 gms. 000. 7.99 gms. 000. 1519.10. 415.92.
20.35.* KYZI. 20.39. P. 34b (Pcc 8A-f2). P. (Rev.) 38.3 (tc). 7.92 gms. 070. MIB x34.
2083.15. 11.38 gms. 190. 724.01.
20.36.* P. (Rev.) 35a (tc).
8.69 gms. 240. 20.40. 1644.12. P. (2004) 39.1 (Ppc). 10.43 gms. 040. 653.99.
20.37. P. (2004) 37.1 (Ppc). 20.41.
9.90 gms. 260. P. (Rev.) 42.4 (tc). 525.95. 5.51 gms. 270. 797.02.
283
Year 12 (X/II). Class IV(2); Heraclius and Heraclius Constantine (M).
Year 12 (X/II).
20.42.* P. (2004) 43.3 (tc). MIB x39.
9.19 gms. 55.84. 20.46. P. (2004) 49 (Ppc).
9.05 gms. 090. 526.95.
20.43. P. (Rev.) 44.7 (tc). 11.18 gms. 040. 1951.13.
20.47.
P. (2004) 51 (Ppc). 8.13 gms. 200. 522.95.
20.44.* P. (2004) 48.2 (Ppc).
10.60 gms. 320. Year 13 (X/III). 432b.93.
20.48.* P. (Rev.) 52.15 (tc). 8.80 gms. 200. 9 960.04.
20.45. P. (2004) 48.1 (tc).
8.61 gms. 000. 359k.90.
284
Class IV(2); Heraclius and Heraclius Constantine (M).
Year 13 (X/III). 20.49. P. (2004) 52.2 (Ppc). 8.17 gms. 230. 528.95.
20.53. P. (2004) 59.1 (Ppc).
10.46 gms. 220. 520.95.
20.50. P. (2004) 52.3 (Ppc).
6.78 gms. 000. 529.95.
20.54. P. (2004) 61.3 (tc).
9.86 gms. 090. 521.95.
20.51. P. (2004) 54.3 (tc).
MIB x30. 7.61 gms. 010. 359b.90.
20 nummi; year 11 (IX).
20.55.
P. (Rev.) 66.1b (tc).
4.92 gms. 030. 10 1938.13.
20.52.
P. (2004) 59.2 (tc). 6.97 gms. 180. 652.99.
285
Class V; Justin and Sophia enthroned (M). Series 2.
Series 1. Year 6 (1).
Year 6 or 7 (U/I).
20.59. P. (Comp.) 69.2 (tc).
9.20 gms. 040. 20.56.* 964.04.
P. (Rev.) 70.3 (tc). 10.03 gms. 090. 1931.13.
Year 11 (X/I).
Year 14 (X/IIII and X/III/I).
20.60.*
P. 78.2a (Pcc). 20.57. 12.41 gms. 180. P. (2004) 79.1 (Ppc). 1437.09.11
9.68 gms. 180. 359j.90.
20.61.
P. (Comp.) 78.6 (tc). 20.58. 9.82 gms. 170. P. (2004) 80.2. 946.04. 7.80 gms. 340. 371.90.
286
Class V; Justin and Sophia enthroned (M).
Year 13 (X/III).
20.65. P. (Rev.) 73.6 (tc). MIBEC x7. 7.53 gms. 150. 945.04. 20.62.* P. (Comp.) 80.4 (tc).
10.65 gms. 180. 1921.13.
Uncertain.
Year 10 (X).
Series 3.
Year 8 (1/II).
20.66.* NIKO; A. P. - . 20.63.* 8.83 gms. 340. P. (Rev.) 72.5 (tc). 1362.08. 7.95 gms. 140. 1917a.12.12
Year 10 (X).
20.67.
NIKO; A.
P. - .
5.87 gms. 180.
1397.08. 20.64.
P. (Rev.) 76a (tc). 6.47 gms. 040. 424a.92.
Series 4.
Year 9 (1I/II).
287
Class V; Justin and Sophia enthroned (M). Class VII; Heraclius, Heraclius Constantine and Martina. Year 13 (X/III). Year 12 (X/II).
20.68. KYZ; A. 20.71.
P. (Rev.) 78c (tc). P. (Comp.) 90.1 (tc). 9.45 gms. 180. 9.65 gms. 190. 1970.13. 535.95.
Imitations of Isaurian folles. Class VI(1); Maurice Tiberius (m).
Year 3 (III).
20.72.* 20.69. P. (Rev.) AA2-4 (tc). P. (Rev.) 81a.2 (tc). 12.30 gms. 160.
11.48 gms. 180. 1608.12. 1411.08.
Class VI(2); Maurice Tiberius (M). A secondary mint during the Persian occupation.
Year 13 (X/III). Series 1 (m).
20.70. 20.73.*
P. (Rev.) 86b (tc). P. (2015) 2 (tc). 11.43 gms. 180. 12.22 gms. 090. 1967.13. 544.95.
288
Series 2 (M with date arrangement G/II) – heavy Year 13 (X/III). module.
20.77. 20.74.* P. - . P. (2015) - . 6.47 gms. 200. 10.82 gms. 170. 531.95. 532.95.
REFERENCES AND GENERAL NOTES
This chapter, in addition to the coinage of the
Syrian mint itself, includes a series of related coins
examined and published, or intended to be
published, by Henri Pottier (catalogue number 20.75.* 20.73 onwards). Further research is needed to P. (2015) 7 (tc). establish the relationship between the groups. For 12.78 gms. 180. the reasons explained there, coins of Class V 545.95. (Justin and Sophia) series 3 are catalogued as the products of a military mint (see chapter 9).
Pottier, H., Le Monnayage de la Syrie sous L’Occupation Perse (610–630), Cahiers Ernest- Babelon 9, CNRS Editions, Paris, 2004. Uncertain issues of the Syrian or secondary mint (Abbreviation - P. 2004). (NIKO/à). Goodwin, A., Review of Pottier (2004) in the Year 3 (II/I). Numismatic Chronicle, 2005, pp. 406-409.
Pottier, H., Le Monnayage de la Syrie sous L’Occupation Perse. Complément au Catalogue SP, Revue Numismatique 2010, pp. 447-476. (Complément; abbreviation - Comp.)
Pottier, H., Révision (2015) (abbreviation - Rev.). 20.76.* P - . Pottier, H., Seventh century “barbarous” Folles: a 12.27 gms. 340. Secondary Mint in the Eastern Part of the 2017.14. Byzantine Empire under Persian Rule, Coinage and History in the Seventh Century Near East 4, pp. 17- 26, Archetype Publications (London), 2015. (Coinage and History 4; P. 2015.)
Pottier, H. (private correspondence).
289
The Syrian mint. responsibility alone.) The Pcc omits the specific reference numbers allocated to obverse and The body, or bodies, that authorised and executed reverse dies. There are occasional references to the issue of these non-regular coins is sometimes “dies not noted in Pottier”, however. simply referred to as the Syrian mint. The output of the major Syrian mint, which Pottier believes Where there is no doubt as to the meaning, the may have been located at Emesa and which issued supposed dates of the coins – either the “regnal” coins during what is sometimes called the last year or an indictional date - are given in the entry. great war of antiquity - between Byzantium and Unless of particular significance, the pseudo-mint Persia (610-630) - is characterised by complex marks are not given in the entries; these are sequences of die-links between coins of different essentially meaningless and are difficult to dates and with different mint signatures. Pottier’s reproduce accurately. They will be apparent from hypothesis rests, inter alia, on his interpretation of the images and from Pottier’s works but in some the dating of the Syrian mint coins as actual years instances are also referred to in the footnotes. after 610. It is apparent that, over the 20 years of Similar considerations apply to officina letters. the occupation, the mint failed to strike coins in only two years – 626/7 and 628/9. Die-links are not generally noted - the exception being when some of the details of a coin in a die- It would be pointless to attempt to elaborate on link chain are obscured or two or more coins are Pottier’s exhaustive and meticulous work. There is die duplicates. an English summary in his book of 2004. The catalogue adopts the order of his Classes I-VII (no Pottier Class V coins are catalogued in chapter 9 example of Class III is present), based on a together with other non-regular and anomalous succession of what he terms iconographic types. coins based on Justin II prototypes. For the sake of continuity I have, on one or two occasions, included entries for coins that, in my 20.1. I believe that the coin is a product of a opinion, probably belong elsewhere. Thus, the military mint – see 15.82. first coin listed here, which has a consular portrait 20.6. Dies unrecorded by Pottier prior to 2010. of Phocas, is catalogued as 20.1 (15.82). 20.8. Owing to an error, almost certainly on my part, the weight given in Pottier (Complément) is It will be noted that the combinations of classes incorrect. (iconographic types) and dates do not follow a set 20.9-11. There is a star above the III date chronological pattern. It is central to Pottier’s arrangement that Pottier interprets as signifying conclusions that the types issued by the Syrian an indictional year; hence indictional year 3, as mint reflected the prevailing political here, corresponds to year 5. circumstances. Thus, a class of coin could be 20.16. Given the range of pseudo-mint marks and struck, abandoned, and reintroduced, over a different dates, the obverse of this coin may be substantial period. compared with those of the next three coins (as well as with 20.21-22) – they are clearly of the Pottier has had access to all the specimens in this same hand. The obverse is die-linked to 20.17 and collection which, following the acquisition of his 20.21; 20.18 and 20.19 are also die-linked by own coins by the Cabinet des Medailles de la obverse. Number 20.21 is from the same dies as Bibliothèque royale de Belgique, is almost certainly MIB x35. the largest in private hands. The majority of coins 20.20. Year 10 (1/IIII) is possible. Not recorded by are therefore referred to by their Pottier number Pottier and, in view of the uncertainty, the coin (as recorded in the 2004 publication; the has not been given a Pottier categorisation code. Complément of 2010; or the Révision of 2015) as 20.30. Possibly struck on the cut-down flan of a “this coin” (tc) or “Pottier plate coin” (Ppc), as follis. appropriate. A number of other coins have not 20.35. The pseudo-mint mark derived from the been incorporated into any of his publications and, Cyzicus mint is not recorded by Pottier (see also in these cases, M. Pottier has kindly attributed a 20.65). M. Pottier has kindly provided me with a specific code – the Pottier categorisation code categorisation code for this coin pending his (Pcc) which categorises the coin by class; date by further work. year; and officina and mintmark variant - see p. 20.36. In the Révision, Pottier suggests that the 109 of the 2004 summary in English. In one or two coin might be the product of one of the regular other cases, I have allocated the Pcc. (Any Imperial mints. mistakes in doing so are therefore my
290
20.42. The obverse is die-linked to the following 20.74. Almost certainly die-linked to P. (2015) 5.1- coin and also to 20.47, and 20.52-54. It is based 5.3. The shape of the coin bears a resemblance to on the Class 2 regnal year 3 design (the Emperors 5.1 which is described as belonging to the Lemaire hold long crosses) produced in large numbers at collection. The pseudo-officina letter, although the Constantinople mint. See MIB x39-x42. very unclear, is possibly B. 20.44-45. Struck from the same dies. The date 20.75. There are die-links to the year 8, light series arrangement is II/X. of Pottier (2015). No coins of this latter type are 20.48-50. Struck from the same pair of dies. represented in the collection. 20.52. For reasons of spatial economy this coin 20.76-77. The second coin, although not the first, (although lighter) is placed before that of 20.53. seems to be of the style of the Syrian mint. It also 20.56-58. Die-linked by obverse. The fact that the resembles P. (Comp.) pl. 55.3. The pseudo-mint reverse of 20.57 belongs to the same die as that of mark of the first coin can be read as [ ]NX. This 20.53 perhaps best characterises the varied and occurs as a signature for the Syrian mint. In fascinating products of this mint. general, though, number 20.77 seems the more 20.61-62. It is possible that these coins belong to a likely candidate for the Syrian mint. military mint. See Chapter 9 for coins (of Cyzicus) with the similar date of X/I. 20.62. The coin is listed in the Révision but Pottier 1 September 1995, from N. Fairhead with a (private correspondence) has suggested that the Baldwins ticket stating “Moneta Militaris coin, while not regular, does not belong to the Imitativa”. Syrian mint. 2 Hoard A, Numismatic Chronicle 2013, no. 235. 20.63-64. Die-linked by obverse. Supplement to ONS Journal 193 – Autumn 2007, 20.66-68. The attribution of these coins, die-linked Two recent Heraclian coin hoards, pp. 3-7, fig. 5. by obverse, is uncertain. The suggestion made in 3 Schick Coins (Jerusalem), June 2013. Baldwins Islamic Coin Auction no. 9, October 2004 4 AAC Ancient Coins, August 2013. (P. Pavlou collection; lot 3131) - in respect of the 5 Chimaira Coins, October 2011. two die-linked NIKO specimens - of an early issue 6 Baldwins, September 1989. at Baisan/Scythopolis can be discounted. Pottier 7 Ancient Imports, October 2014. (private correspondence) has suggested that 20.65 8 Baldwins, September 1995. may be an Imperial issue. The combination of two 9 Baldwins, July 2004. dates and two pseudo-mint marks (given that KYZ 10 AAC Ancient Coins, June 2013. is now accepted for the Syrian mint – see 11 catalogue 20.35) seems to me to represent Gorny and Mosch sale no. 170, October 2008, ex lot 3319. reasonable evidence in favour of an attribution to 12 the mint. At present it is not conclusive, however. Hoard B, Numismatic Chronicle 2013, no. 199.
Imitations of Isaurian folles.
20.72. While coins in this series appear to have some common features, further work is needed to establish a firmer connection with the regular mints of Isaura and Seleucia Isauriae. The pseudo- mint signature CON that appears on several of the coins is an obvious and potential difficulty.
A secondary mint under the Persian occupation.
Included here are two coins (20.73-74) not described in Coinage and History 4 (Pottier 2015) that appear to share certain characteristics in common with the products of the secondary mint.
20.73. Pottier interprets the pseudo-mint signature as CON. The figure on the left resembles Phocas as often shown with a pointed beard. There are no die-links to other coins in this series.
291