id:			169988
accession number:	2012.22.a
share license status:	CC0
url:			https://clevelandart.org/art/2012.22.a
updated:		

Solidus with Busts of Constans II and Constantine IV (obverse), 659–661. Byzantium, 7th century. Gold; diameter: 1.9 cm (3/4 in.). The Cleveland Museum of Art, Gift of Dr. Norman Zaworski 2012.22.a

title:				Solidus with Busts of Constans II and Constantine IV (obverse)
title in original language:	
series:				
series in original language:	
creation date:			659–661
creation date earliest:		659
creation date latest:		661
current location:		104 Late Antiquity
creditline:			Gift of Dr. Norman Zaworski
copyright:			

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culture:	Byzantium, 7th century
technique:	gold
department:	Medieval Art
collection:	MED - Byzantine
type:		Coins
find spot:	
catalogue raisonne: 

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CREATORS

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measurements: Diameter: 1.9 cm (3/4 in.)
state of the work:	
edition of the work: 	

support materials:


inscriptions:

	inscription:	VICTORIA AVGU and officina letter (cut off and incomplete)
	translation:	
	remark:		

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CURRENT EXHIBITIONS

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LEGACY EXHIBITIONS

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PROVENANCE

	Spink & Co., London;  Dr. Norman Zaworski, Cleveland
	date: 
	footnotes: 	
	citations: 	


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fun fact:
The emperor depicted on the left was also known as "Constantine the Bearded."

digital description:


wall description:
The vast number of surviving Byzantine coins attests to the level of trade across the empire. Controlled and supervised by the emperor, the producers of coins took care to represent his authority and reflect his stature. Talented artists were recruited to engrave the dies (molds) used for the striking of coins. Emperors increasingly came to include their heirs and co-emperors on their coinage, as well as other family members or even earlier rulers. Coins were recognized, then as now, as small, portable works of art. With their inscriptions and images, Byzantine coins provide valuable documentation of historical events and a record of the physical appearance of the emperors. The coin shown here is the solidus, the basic gold coin of 24 karats.
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RELATED WORKS

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CITATIONS

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IMAGES

web:	https://openaccess-cdn.clevelandart.org/2012.22.a/2012.22.a_web.jpg
print:	https://openaccess-cdn.clevelandart.org/2012.22.a/2012.22.a_print.jpg
full:	https://openaccess-cdn.clevelandart.org/2012.22.a/2012.22.a_full.tif