Maurice Tiberius, 582-602. Solidus (Gold, 21 mm, 4.40 g, 6 h), Rome, circa 583-584. D N mAVRC TIb P P AVC Draped and cuirassed bust of Maurice Tiberius facing, wearing plumed helmet with diadem and pendillia, holding globus cruciger in his right hand. Rev. VICTORIA AVGG P / CONOB Angel standing facing, holding long staff surmounted by staurogram in his right hand and globus cruciger in his left. DOC -. MIB 30. SB 584. Extremely rare and of great historical interest. Some light scrapes and struck from a slighty corroded obverse die, otherwise, good extremely fine.
Compared to other Byzantine emperors who minted coins in Rome, the extremely rare coinage of Maurice Tiberius usually differs little in style and craftsmanship from that of Constantinople, suggesting that the dies may have been produced there. However in the case of this example, the distinction in style is clearly tangible, which speaks for a die engraver from Rome. Nonetheless it is the letter Rho at the end of the reverse legend that reveals the mint. By the time of Maurice Tiberius, Rome's significance had sharply declined. The Byzantine Exarch resided in Ravenna, the population was shrinking, and no reconstruction followed the widespread destruction of the city during the Gothic Wars. Instead, only makeshift maintenance of essential infrastructure was carried out when necessary. In the late 6th century, the city's broader significance was largely due to the Bishop of Rome. However, it is important to note that the papacy's true rise to prominence did not begin until the time of Pepin the Younger in the 8th century, with the papacy's westward orientation