Lot 844
844
Ummayad, anonymous, copy of a solidus of Focas, facing bust of Focas holding globus cruciger with cross bar omitted, rev. VICTORIA AVGUI, angel standing facing holding staff with Christogram and globus cruciger, both of which are lacking their cross bars, CONOB in exergue (Miles, ANS Museum Notes 13, Gp. A, no.1 var. and pl.XLV, 2 var.), about extremely fine and of great rarity, the second recorded specimen
No VAT will be charged on the hammer price, but VA… Read more
Ummayad, anonymous, copy of a solidus of Focas, facing bust of Focas holding globus cruciger with cross bar omitted, rev. VICTORIA AVGUI, angel standing facing holding staff with Christogram and globus cruciger, both of which are lacking their cross bars, CONOB in exergue (Miles, ANS Museum Notes 13, Gp. A, no.1 var. and pl.XLV, 2 var.), about extremely fine and of great rarity, the second recorded specimen

Details
Ummayad, anonymous, copy of a solidus of Focas, facing bust of Focas holding globus cruciger with cross bar omitted, rev. VICTORIA AVGUI, angel standing facing holding staff with Christogram and globus cruciger, both of which are lacking their cross bars, CONOB in exergue (Miles, ANS Museum Notes 13, Gp. A, no.1 var. and pl.XLV, 2 var.), about extremely fine and of great rarity, the second recorded specimen
Provenance
Bonham-Vecchi auction 4, 14-15 September 1981, lot 651
Special notice
No VAT will be charged on the hammer price, but VAT at 17.5% will be added to the buyer's premium which is invoiced on a VAT inclusive basis.

Lot Essay

The earliest Arab gold coins, such as this piece and the succeeding lot, are close copies of the Byzantine prototypes but lack any Christian symbolism which takes the form of omitting the cross bars on any cross.