Revolt of the Heraclii, 608-610. Tremissis (Gold, 16 mm, 0.92 g, 6 h), struck in the name of Maurice Tiberius. Military mint in the East, likely Cyprus, 609-5 October 610. D N TIbЄ-RI P P AVI Diademed, draped and cuirassed bust of Maurice Tiberius to right. Rev. VICTORIA AVςЧ / CONOB Cross potent on base. DOC -. MIBE -, cf. 9 (differing obverse legend). Cf. Peus 371 (2002), 545 (same obverse die, but differing reverse type). SB -. Sincona 3 (2011), 3202. Of the highest rarity and great historical importance. Very light die rust and thin die breaks, otherwise, extremely fine.



This extraordinary tremissis belongs to an exceptionally rare issue struck at an eastern military mint during the revolt of the Heraclii against Phocas. It names neither Heraclius nor Phocas, but instead the former emperor Maurice Tiberius (582–602), thereby challenging the legitimacy of the hated ruler in Constantinople - surely one of the most inept in Roman history - without yet claiming the purple for the son of the Exarch of Africa. In this it follows the pattern of the other coinage of the Heraclii from this period, which styles the usurpers merely as consuls, not as basileis. Our specimen was most likely struck in Cyprus, where the younger Heraclius landed in 609/10 before seizing Constantinople in early autumn and having himself crowned emperor.