Anastasius II Artemius (AD 713-715). AV solidus (19mm, 4.35 gm, 7h). NGC MS 4/5 - 2/5, edge bend, clipped, marks, brushed. Constantinople, 1st officina. d N APTЄMIЧS A-NASTASIЧS MЧL, bust of Anastasius II facing, bearded, wearing crown and chlamys pinned at right shoulder, globus cruciger in right hand, akakia in left / VICTORIA-AVϚЧ A, cross potent set on three steps; CONOB below. Sear 1463. Although often cited as only a mild civil servant thrust into the role of short-reigning emperor, Anastasius II Artemius was rather a more formidable character than his origins might suggest. An imperial secretary to several emperors, he ascended to the purple when soldiers from the volatile Opsikian Theme in Thrace rose up and overthrew the Emperor Philippicus, whose unorthodox religious views had alienated the populace and soldiery. Artemius was chosen for his intimate knowledge of the imperial bureaucracy and orthodox religion. He chose to rule under the name Anastasius in honor of the ruler of two centuries previous who had strengthened the Empire through sound financial measures. One of his first actions was to arrest and execute the conspirators against Philippicus and impose harsh discipline on the army. Understanding that Constantinople would soon be besieged by Arab armies, he repaired the walls and ordered construction of a new fleet, which he sent on a successful preemptive raid of Rhodes. He also placed the army of the Anatolian Theme under the command of the talented general Leo the Isaurian, later emperor, and ordered it to invade Syria. In the meantime, however, the unruly Thracian troops tired of his discipline and revolted a second time. After a two-month siege, they took Constantinople and replaced Anastasius with another civil servant, who ascended the throne as Theodosius III. Anastasius fled to Nicaea, where he abdicated and entered a monastery. Four years later, he attempted to resume the throne, but he was captured and executed. HID09801242017 © 2024 Heritage Auctions | All Rights Reserved

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