Lot 1039
Lot 31039 > Justinian II Rhinotmetus, second reign (AD 705-711). AV solidus (20mm, 4.47 gm, 5h). NGC Choice MS 4/5 - 5/5. Constantinople, AD 709-711. ∂ N IhS ChS RЄX-RЄGNANTIЧM, facing bust of youthful Christ, with slight beard and tight, curly hair, wearing pallium and colobium, right hand raised in benediction, book of Gospels cradled in left arm; cross behind / ∂ N IЧSTINIAN-ЧS ЄT TIbЄRIЧS PP A, crowned facing half-length figures of Justinian II (on left), bearded, and Tiberius (on right), slightly smaller and beardless, both wearing divitision and chlamys, jointly holding cross potent on two steps. Sear 1415. DOC 2b. Upon his return to power from exile, Justinian II immediately resumed his innovative coinage featuring an obverse portrait of Christ. The new sacred image, however, was distinctly different from the "classic" Christ of Justinian's first reign. Jesus is shown in a seemingly more youthful guise, with a head of tight, curly hair and a close-cropped beard, in place of the long tresses and medium-length beard on coins of the first reign. Various theories have been put forth to explain this abrupt change in iconography, but it remains mysterious.
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