US DOLLAR
EURO
AUSTRALIAN DOLLAR
CANADIAN DOLLAR
POUND STERLING
Product Description
This Roman Byzantine Empire bronze (large version) follis coin was minted under the rule of Emperor Justin II, during his 5th year of reign, 569 - 570 A.D.. The obverse shows a dark toned patina highlighting emperor Justin and his wife, empress Sophia, facing seated on thrones, both nimbate, with Justin holding a globe and cross, and Sophia holding a cruciform scepter. The reverse shows a large M (the denomination in the Greek number indicating 40 nummi which equaled one follis), with NIKO mint mark beneath, Nicomedia, and the number for the regnal year, to the right.
HISTORY
Justin II was Eastern Roman emperor from 565 until 578 AD. He was the nephew of Justinian I and the husband of empress Sophia, the niece of the empress Theodora, and a member of the Justinian dynasty.
Justin II inherited a greatly enlarged but over-extended empire, with far fewer resources at his disposal compared to Justinian I. He ended the payment of tributes and adopted a hard line stance against the empire's neighbors, which resulted in rekindling of war with the Sassanid Empire, and in a Lombard invasion which cost the Romans much of their territory in Italy.