Byzantine Bronze 40 Nummi of Heraclius (1,400 years ago)

$34.00 $40.00

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This bronze coin was issued during the joint reign of Emperor Heraclius and his son Heraclius Constantine in the Byzantine Empire between 610-641 AD. It was minted in Constantinople (modern-day Istanbul, Turkey), the capital of the Byzantine Empire.

Coin Description:

Front side: Emperor Heraclius holding a long cross and his son Heraclius Constantine holding a globus cruciger (orb topped with a cross) standing facing forward, with a cross above them.
Back side: Large letter M (representing the denomination of 40 nummi), with a cross above, date marked as "E" across the field, and "CON" below (abbreviation for Constantinople mint).

Technical Details:

Material: Bronze
Denomination: 40 Nummi (also called a follis)
Size: 22mm diameter
Weight: 5.63 grams
Mint: Constantinople
Date: 610-641 AD
Catalog Reference: Sear Byzantine (SB) 810

Historical Significance:

This coin was issued during the tumultuous reign of Heraclius, who faced devastating wars with the Sassanid Persian Empire and later the early Islamic conquests. The father-son imagery symbolizes dynastic continuity during a period of crisis for the Byzantine Empire. The religious imagery reflects the crucial role of Christianity in Byzantine identity at a time when the empire was losing significant territories in the Middle East and North Africa, while the continued use of standardized bronze coinage demonstrates the resilience of the Byzantine economic system despite military setbacks.

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Coin Description:

Front side: Emperor Heraclius holding a long cross and his son Heraclius Constantine holding a globus cruciger (orb topped with a cross) standing facing forward, with a cross above them.
Back side: Large letter M (representing the denomination of 40 nummi), with a cross above, date marked as "E" across the field, and "CON" below (abbreviation for Constantinople mint).

Technical Details:

Material: Bronze
Denomination: 40 Nummi (also called a follis)
Size: 22mm diameter
Weight: 5.63 grams
Mint: Constantinople
Date: 610-641 AD
Catalog Reference: Sear Byzantine (SB) 810

Historical Significance:

Coin Description:

Front side: Emperor Heraclius holding a long cross and his son Heraclius Constantine holding a globus cruciger (orb topped with a cross) standing facing forward, with a cross above them.
Back side: Large letter M (representing the denomination of 40 nummi), with a cross above, date marked as "E" across the field, and "CON" below (abbreviation for Constantinople mint).

Technical Details:

Material: Bronze
Denomination: 40 Nummi (also called a follis)
Size: 22mm diameter
Weight: 5.63 grams
Mint: Constantinople
Date: 610-641 AD
Catalog Reference: Sear Byzantine (SB) 810

Historical Significance:

Heraclius (Greek: Ἡράκλειος, translit. Hērákleios; c. 575 – 11 February 641) was Byzantine emperor from 610 to 641. His rise to power began in 608, when he and his father, Heraclius the Elder, the Exarch of Africa, led a revolt against the unpopular emperor Phocas.

Heraclius's reign was marked by several military campaigns. The year Heraclius came to power, the empire was threatened on multiple frontiers. Heraclius immediately took charge of the Byzantine–Sasanian War of 602–628. The first battles of the campaign ended in defeat for the Byzantines; the Persian army fought their way to the Bosphorus but Constantinople was protected by impenetrable walls and a strong navy, and Heraclius was able to avoid total defeat. Soon after, he initiated reforms to rebuild and strengthen the military. Heraclius drove the Persians out of Asia Minor and pushed deep into their territory, defeating them decisively in 627 at the Battle of Nineveh. The Persian Shah Khosrow II was overthrown and executed by his son Kavad II, who soon sued for a peace treaty, agreeing to withdraw from all occupied territory. This way peaceful relations were restored to the two deeply strained empires.