★ A very rare consular solidus of Tiberius II Constantine ★

Tiberius II Constantine, 578-582. Solidus (Gold, 22 mm, 4.49 g, 5 h), Constantinopolis, 579. CONSTANT AЧG ЧIЧ FELIX Bust of Tiberius II Constantine facing, wearing crown with small cross atop and consular robes, holding mappa in his right hand and eagle-tipped scepter, surmounted by cross, in his left. Rev. ЧICTOR TIbЄRI AЧG / CONOB Cross potent on base and four steps. DOC 2. MIB 2. SB 420. Very rare. Struck from slightly worn dies and with a minor graffito on the reverse, otherwise, about extremely fine.

The consulate, once the highest yearly executive office of the Roman Republic, lost most of its political powers and duties under Augustus, but remained a source of prestige well into late antiquity. The last western consul ordinarius, Decius Paulinus, was appointed in 534, whereas the annual eastern consulate lapsed with the reforms of Justinian in the late 530s and early 540s, which also abolished consular dating. After that point, the consulate was, with very few exceptions, only assumed by emperors after their accession to power. In the case of Tiberius II, who had succeeded to the throne in September 578, this was on 1st January 579.