Byzantine Gold Solidus: Emperor Maurice and 46 similar items

House of Emirates and on its online store is thrilled to offer its elite clientele this Byzantine Gold Solidus of Emperor Maurice Tiberius, a radiant survivor from the final years of the 6th century, struck in Constantinople between 583?602 AD. Minted in an age when the Roman world stood at the crossroads of survival and faith, this solidus embodies imperial authority at its most solemn and resolute. The obverse presents Maurice Tiberius in full martial dignity, draped and armored, wearing a helmet crowned with a pearl diadem, holding the cruciform globe?an unmistakable declaration that earthly power and divine mandate were inseparable in the Byzantine mind. The reverse is nothing short of transcendent. Victoria, standing in sacred stillness, holds a staurogram staff and cruciform globe, symbols charged with early Christian meaning and imperial destiny. The inscription VICTORI-A AVGG A / CONOB anchors the coin firmly to the sacred monetary standard of Constantinople, where gold was not merely currency, but doctrine in metal. This type, catalogued as DOC 1, 5a; MIBE 2, 6; Sear 478; Sommer, MBR 7.5, reflects a period of relentless wars, theological transformation, and the last echoes of classical Rome before the medieval world fully emerged. Struck in pure gold, measuring 21 mm and weighing 4.46 grams, this solidus is preserved in brilliant very fine condition, with sharp legends, confident portraits, and exceptional presence for its age. It is not simply a coin?it is a political statement, a theological symbol, and a tangible fragment of imperial eternity. To own this piece is to hold the authority of Constantinople itself, frozen in gold at the edge of history.