{"product_id":"justinian-ii-692-695-ad-gold-solidus-first-christ-portrait-ngc-ch-au-byzantine","title":"Justinian II 692-695 AD Gold Solidus FIRST CHRIST Portrait NGC Ch AU Byzantine","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cmeta charset=\"UTF-8\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eTHE FIRST PORTRAIT OF JESUS CHRIST ON A COIN\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cspan\u003eFew ancient coins possess the historical, religious, and artistic importance of this remarkable gold Solidus of Byzantine Emperor Justinian II, struck at Constantinople during his first reign, AD 685–695.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cspan\u003eCertified by NGC Ancients Choice AU, this example weighs 4.30 grams and features the celebrated facing portrait of Christ Pantocrator — one of the most consequential designs in the entire history of coinage.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cspan\u003eFor centuries after the rise of Christianity, Christ himself was not portrayed on Roman or Byzantine coins. That changed under Justinian II. During his first reign, the Byzantine mint introduced the first numismatic portrait of Jesus Christ, replacing the traditional imperial portrait on the obverse with the image of Christ. \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cspan\u003eThe type is generally dated to approximately AD 692–695 and appeared around the time of the Quinisext Council of 692, whose Canon 82 favored portraying Christ in human form rather than symbolically as the Lamb of God. \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cspan\u003eObverse:\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cspan\u003eA powerful facing bust of Christ Pantocrator, with long hair and full beard, cross behind his head, his right hand raised in benediction and the Gospels held in his left.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cspan\u003eReverse:\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cspan\u003eEmperor Justinian II standing facing in imperial dress, holding a large cross potent — an extraordinary visual statement that places Christ on the principal side of the coin and the emperor on the reverse.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cspan\u003eThe American Numismatic Society notes just how significant this change was: Justinian II moved his own image to the reverse when he placed Christ Pantocrator on the obverse. \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cspan\u003eNGC Certification\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cspan\u003eByzantine Empire — Justinian II\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cspan\u003eFirst Reign, AD 685–695\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cspan\u003eAV Solidus — 4.30 grams\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cspan\u003eNGC Choice AU\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cspan\u003eStrike: 3\/5\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cspan\u003eSurface: 3\/5\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cspan\u003eNGC notes: Clipped\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cspan\u003eCertification # 6829741-041\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cspan\u003eDespite the clipping noted by NGC, the most important element of this historic issue remains remarkably compelling: Christ’s portrait is bold, immediately recognizable and visually dominant.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cspan\u003eThis isn’t simply another Byzantine gold coin.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cspan\u003eIt represents a moment when religion, imperial power and numismatic history collided on a piece of gold roughly 1,330 years ago.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cspan\u003eFor the collector of Biblical coins, Byzantine gold, ancient portraiture or historically important world coins, the Justinian II First Reign Solidus deserves a place alongside the great landmark issues of antiquity.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cspan\u003eYou are acquiring the actual ancient gold coin pictured.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cspan\u003e⸻\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cspan\u003eCapstone Acquisitions, LP\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cspan\u003eServing collectors and investors since 2004, Capstone Acquisitions specializes in important U.S., world and ancient coins, precious metals and historically significant numismatic material.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cspan\u003eMember — Professional Numismatists Guild (PNG)\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cspan\u003eMember — International Association of Professional Numismatists (IAPN)\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cspan\u003eWe stand behind the authenticity and description of every certified coin we offer.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"capstonecoins","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":48998784303257,"sku":null,"price":7884.69,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0464\/6948\/0601\/files\/A3E0E8C2-96D8-4675-9895-3D3DB9884453.jpg?v=1788973720","url":"https:\/\/capstonecoins.com\/products\/justinian-ii-692-695-ad-gold-solidus-first-christ-portrait-ngc-ch-au-byzantine","provider":"capstonecoins","version":"1.0","type":"link"}