Philippicus (Bardanes) (AD 711-713). AV solidus (19mm, 6h). ANACS AU 55. Constantinople, 2nd officina. D N FILЄPICЧS-MЧL-TЧS AN, bust of Philippicus facing, wearing loros and crown surmounted by cross, globus cruciger in right hand, scepter with eagle surmounted by cross in left / VICTORIA-AVϚЧ B, cross potent on three steps; CONOB in exergue. Sear 1447. One of a debilitating string of short-lived rulers from the early eighth century, Bardanes was a general of Armenian origins who was proclaimed emperor upon the final overthrow of Justinian II. Almost immediately, he alienated the clergy and populace by reviving the Monothelete heresy (proposing that Christ had a single, divine nature and will) which had supposedly been stamped out decades previously. He was also unsuccessful in stopping Arab and Bulgarian advances, prompting the Byzantine army to depose and blind him after 18 months of ineffective rule. He was replaced by the finance minister Artemius, who reigned as Anastasius II. This extraordinary piece shows the unusually fine artistry employed on the coinage for so ephemeral a reign, showing the emperor holding two symbols of office dating back to Roman times: The globus cruciger and scipio aquila, a scepter topped by an eagle. HID09801242017 © 2024 Heritage Auctions | All Rights Reserved

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