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Solidus (Coin) of Heraclius

A work made of gold.
CC0 Public Domain Designation

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  • A work made of gold.

Date:

638-641

Artist:

Byzantine; minted in Constantinople (now Istanbul)

About this artwork

On the front (obverse) of this coin Emperor Heraclius is flanked by his two sons, Heraclius Constantine and Heraclonas. All are facing front and holding globes. On the back (reverse) is a Greek cross on 3 steps, with the monogram of Heraclius to the left of the cross.

Coins were an ideal way for Byzantine emperors to circulate their images throughout the empire and beyond, since they were used to pay for imported merchandise and to pay foreign mercenaries. They could also be employed as powerful vehicles for propaganda, promoting dynastic succession and emphasizing the earthly emperor’s god-given right to rule.

This coin is a gold solidi weighing 4.5 grams. From the fourth century on, the solidus was the preferred gold coin issued by Byzantine emperors. The solidus remained essentially unaltered in weight and purity until the tenth century.

Status

Currently Off View

Department

Arts of the Ancient Mediterranean and Byzantium

Culture

Byzantine

Title

Solidus (Coin) of Heraclius

Place

Byzantine Empire (Minted in)

Date  Dates are not always precisely known, but the Art Institute strives to present this information as consistently and legibly as possible. Dates may be represented as a range that spans decades, centuries, dynasties, or periods and may include qualifiers such as c. (circa) or BCE.

Struck 638 CE–641 CE

Medium

Gold

Inscriptions

Reverse: CONOB VICTORIA AVCVS

Dimensions

Diam.: 2 cm (13/16 in.)

Credit Line

Gift of Emily Crane Chadbourne

Reference Number

1940.14

IIIF Manifest  The International Image Interoperability Framework (IIIF) represents a set of open standards that enables rich access to digital media from libraries, archives, museums, and other cultural institutions around the world.

Learn more.

https://api.artic.edu/api/v1/artworks/36631/manifest.json

Extended information about this artwork

Object information is a work in progress and may be updated as new research findings emerge. To help improve this record, please email . Information about image downloads and licensing is available here.

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