Maurice Tiberius, 582-602. Half-siliqua (Silver, 14 mm, 0.84 g, 5 h), Carthage, 582-583/4. D N TIb MAVRIC PP Facing bust of Maurice, wearing helmet with cross at the top, cuirass and paludamentum. Rev. *SALVS MVNDI Cross potent within a circle of pearls surrounded by the inscription. DOC 239. MIB 57. SB 551. Very rare. Dark grey patina as found. Extremely fine.
Ex Nomos 11, 9 October 2015, 254, from the collection of H. Pottier, Elsen 125, 13 June 2015, 542, previously acquired from J. Elsen in November 1985.
This is a particularly interesting Byzantine coin, primarily because of its very unusually arranged reverse. The cross within a circular inscription is also known on some contemporary and later Merovingian coins, but it is immediately reminiscent of all the later penny/denier coinage of Western Europe beginning with the Carolingians.