Leontius, 695-698. Tremissis (Gold, 14 mm, 1.40 g, 7 h), Ravenna or Rome. D LE[ON PЄ] AV Bearded bust of Leontius facing, wearing crown and loros, holding globus cruciger in his right hand. Rev. VICTORIA AVSЧS C / CONOB Cross potent. DOC 28a (Ravenna). MIB 24 (Rome). SB 1355 (Ravenna). Extremely rare. Minor marks and weakness and with light doubling on the obverse, otherwise, good very fine.
Leontius’ western gold coinage is extremely rare. During the few turbulent years of his reign, marked by the struggle against the Arabs in the Exarchate of Africa, followed by Apsimar’s revolt and the siege of Constantinople, he had little opportunity to assert his authority in those parts of Italy that still remained under Roman rule.