Product Description
This Roman Byzantine Empire bronze half follis coin was minted under the rule of emperor Justin II, during the 10th year of his reign, 574 - 575 A.D.. The obverse shows an image of emperor Justin and his wife, empress Sophia, facing standing. The reverse shows a large K (the denomination in the Greek number indicating 20 nummi which equaled a half follis).
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.