Justinian II Rhinotmetus, Second Reign (AD 705-711). AV solidus (20mm, 4.33 gm, 6h). NGC MS S 5/5 - 4/5, clipped. Constantinople, AD 705-706. d N IhS ChS RЄX-RЄGNANTIЧM, half-length bust of youthful Christ facing, with slight beard and tight, curly hair, wearing pallium and colobium, cross behind head, right hand raised in benediction, book of Gospels cradled in left arm / C N IЧSTINIAN-ЧS ЄT TIbЄRIЧS PP A, crowned facing half-length figures of Justinian II (on left), bearded, and Tiberius (on right), slightly smaller and beardless, both wearing divitision and chlamys, jointly holding cross potent with base on two steps. Sear 1415. Struck from fresh dies. Perfectly centered. Ex Münzen & Medaillen, Auction 35 (16 June 1967), lot 225 Upon his return to power, Justinian II immediately resumed his innovative coinage featuring an obverse portrait of Christ. The new sacred image, however, was distinctly different from the "classic" Christ of Justinian's first reign. Jesus is shown in a seemingly more youthful guise, with a head of tight, curly hair and a close-cropped beard, in place of the long tresses and medium-length beard on coins of the first reign. Various theories have been put forth to explain this abrupt change in iconography, but it remains mysterious. At any rate, young, curly headed Christ proved a short-lived depiction. It would not be until the end of the iconoclastic era, in the late 9th century AD, that Christ would again be depicted on Byzantine coins, and the image would revert to the more traditional long-haired visage of Justinian II's first reign.

HID09801242017

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