Heraclius, 610-641, Solidus

Heraclius, Solidus, gold, AD 610–641, Constantinople, 4.63 g, 20 mm. Obv: D N HERACLIVS PP AVG; facing bust of Heraclius, bearded, crowned and draped, holding globus cruciger. Rev: VICTORIA AVGVS; cross potent on three steps; CONOB in exergue. Hammer-struck at Constantinople; typical solidus standard; die axis c. 6h. Reference: Sear Byzantine 731.

Heraclius reformed the Byzantine state during the climactic war with Sasanian Persia (622–628) and ceremonially restored the relic of the True Cross to Jerusalem in 630; his later years coincided with the first Arab-Islamic conquests that cost the empire Syria and Egypt. The solidus remained the principal international gold currency, its CONOB signature denoting Constantinople and obryzum-quality metal. The cross potent on steps and VICTORIA legend reflect the Christian imperial ideology and victory claims of his reign.