Solidus Phocas

Solidus - Phocas 602-10AD Double Struck

Obverse
Draped and cuirassed facing bust, wearing crown with/without pendilia, holding cross on globe.
BCV#616, BCV#617 - with pendilia
BCV#618, BCV#620 - without pendilia

Lettering:
dN FOCAS PERP AVG (BCV#616, BCV#617, BCV#620)
dN N FOCAS PERP AVG (BCV#620 wih dNN)
ON FOCAS PERP AVG (BCV#618)

Reverse
Angel standing facing, holding staff surmounted by christogram (Staurogram - early symbols similar to the Chi Rho) and cross on globe

Lettering:
VICTORIA AVGG and officina letter (BCV#616, BCV#618)
- variant with N to right (BCV#617)
VICTORIA AVGU and officina letter (BCV#620)

Byzantine Empire, Gold Solidus of Phocas (AD 602-610) - rv. Angel Holding P-Cross

As a military officer, Phocas broke with tradition and led a coup against the Byzantine emperor Maurice in 601 AD. He enjoyed early popularity of the citizens and was a staunch supporter of the Roman Catholic Church. Though he ruled in Constantinople, Phocas commissioned a monument of his victory at the Forum in Rome and gave the Pantheon to Pope Boniface for consecration as a Catholic Church. With this small gesture, he insured that one of the greatest works of man; the Pantheon, would remain one of the best-preserved buildings in Rome. Phocas was overthrown in 610 AD by Heraclius.

This imagery is a political claim for Phocus to rule.
The obverse is a facing bust of a crowned Phocas, wearing a beard and holding a cross on a globe. The reverse is a standing angel, Victory, facing the viewer, holding P-cross staff surmounted by christogram and cross on globe with Mint mark of Constantinople. The images were selected to present his case to the citizens that victory over Maurice gave him authority to rule.

Solidus of Phocas ( r. 602–10),7th century
Byzantine

References Fr# 93, BCV# 620, BCV# 616, BCV# 617, BCV# 618

01-1077