Anastasius

491 - 518

In a larger context the Byzantine empire as such could be said to have started when the ancient city of Byzantium was renamed Constantinople by Constantine I and made a political axis on a par with Rome. Numismatic historians, however, classify Anastasius as the last Roman Emperor and the first Byzantine one. Although he considered himself "Roman", along with all future Byzantine emperors, his choice in 498 to discard the then monetary system in favor of a new, more Greek-aligned one was a lasting landmark of profound significance. Culturally, the Byzantines were always Greek under their skin and as the influence of the Romans waned there was ever less reason to reflect what to them was a foreign culture even at an official level. Within another hundred years most distinctly Roman traits had been supplanted by the new zeitgeist which better served, after all, a Greek citizenry.

During his reign he consolidated power in what was left of the eastern half of the empire and gave up for lost the barbarian-infested western one. To his credit, he was a shrewd administrator and settled several favorable trade treaties which started off the Byzantine period on sound financial footing.

AU Solidus


SB 3, Hahn 4a.1, DO 3i Solidus Obv: DNANASTASIVSPPAVG - Helmeted, cuirassed bust facing, holding spear over shoulder and shield.
Rev: VICTORIAAVGGGI Exe: /CONOB - Victory standing left, holding cross.



SB 3 Solidus Obv: DNANASTASIVSPPAVG - Helmeted, cuirassed bust facing, holding spear over shoulder and shield.
Rev: VICTORIAAVGGGΓ Exe: /CONOB - Victory standing left, holding cross. $400 5/22/02.



SB 4 Solidus Obv: DNANASTASIVSPPAVG - Helmeted, cuirassed bust facing, holding spear over shoulder and shield.
Rev: VICTORIAAVGGG Exe: /CONOB - Victory standing left, holding scepter with Chi-Rho atop. 498 (Constantinople). $1,200 9/24/03.



SB 5 Solidus Obv: DNANASTASIVSPPAVG - Helmeted, cuirassed bust facing, holding spear over shoulder and shield.
Rev: VICTORIAAVGGG Exe: /CONOB - Victory standing left, holding scepter with Christogram atop. 498-518 (Constantinopolis). $300 5/22/02.



SB 30 Solidus Obv: DNANASTASIVSPPAVG - Helmeted, cuirassed bust facing, holding spear over shoulder and shield.
Rev: VICTORIAAVGGG Exe: //CONOB - Victory standing left, holding cross.


AU Semissis


SB 6 Semissis Obv: DNANASTASIVSPPAVG - Diademed, draped and cuirassed bust right.
Rev: VICTORIAAVGGG Exe: //CONOB - Victory seated right, holding shield reading XXXX. $410 5/22/02.



SB 7 Semissis Obv: DNANASTASIVSPPAVG - Diademed, draped and cuirassed bust right.
Rev: VICTORIAAVGGG Exe: //CONOB - Victory seated right, holding shield reading XXXX.


AU Tremissis


SB 8 Tremissis Obv: DNANASTASIVSPPAVG - Diademed, draped and cuirassed bust right.
Rev: VICTORIAAVGVSTORVM Exe: /CONOB - Victory advancing right, holding wreath and cross on globe. $150 4/27/03.


AR Miliarense


Unlisted Miliarense Obv: DNANASTASIVSPPAVG - Diademed (pearls), draped and cuirassed bust right.
Rev: GLORORVSTRRA Exe: /THSOB - Anastasius standing, facing, holding spear and resting hand on shield.


AR Siliqua


SB 11, BMC 16 Siliqua Obv: DNANASTASIVSPPAVG - Diademed, draped and cuirassed bust right.
Rev: VOT/MVLT/MTI Exe: CONOS - Wreath, legend within. (Constantinopolis). $4,000 9/25/02.


AE Follis


SB 14, MIB 22 Follis Obv: DNANASTASIVSPPAVG - Draped, dressed bust right.
Rev: Large M Exe: CON - Cross above M. 498-507 (Constantinopolis).



SB 17 Follis Obv: DNANASTASIVSPPAVG - Draped, dressed bust right.
Rev: Large M Exe: CON - Cross above, to left. 498-518 (Constantinopolis).



SB 18 Follis Obv: DNANASTASIVSPPAVG - Diademed, draped and cuirassed bust right.
Rev: Large M over Exe: CON - Cross above and on either side. 498-518 (Constantinopolis).



SB 19, DOC I 23 Follis Obv: DNANASTASIVSPFAVG - Draped, dressed bust right.
Rev: Large M Exe: // over CON - Cross above M. 512-517 (Constantinopolis). $68 10/13/04.



SB 21 Follis Obv: DNANASTASIVSPFAVG - Draped, dressed bust right.
Rev: Large M Exe: over CON - Cross above M, on either side with a dot above and below each. 512-517 (Constantinopolis).


AE Half Follis


SB 23 Half Follis Obv: Obv: DNANASTASIVSPPAVG - Diademed, draped and cuirassed bust right.
Rev: Large K - cross to left, B to right. (Constantinopolis).



SB 23 Half Follis Obv: Obv: DNANASTASIVSPPAVG - Diademed, draped and cuirassed bust right.
Rev: Large K - cross to left, Γ to right. (Constantinopolis). $1 9/20/02.


AE 10 Nummi


SB 26 Decanummi Obv: DNANASTASIVSPPAVG - Diademed, draped and cuirassed bust right.
Rev: CONCORDI - Large I with dot on either side. (Constantinopolis).


AE 5 Nummi


SB 29 Pentanummus Obv: DNANASPPAVG - Diademed, draped and cuirassed bust right.
Rev: No legend - Large ; monogram to right.


AE Nummus


SB 13, DOC I 15, MIB 40 AE Nummus Obv: DNANAS - Diademed, draped and cuirassed bust right.
Rev: Circle, monogram within.