Justinian, 527-565. Pentanummium

Justinian I, pentanummium, AE, reign 527–565, Constantinople mint, 3.22 g, 14 mm. Obverse with legend D N IVSTINIANVS PP AVG surrounding the imperial bust. Reverse with denomination mark E for five nummi, accompanied by a cross. Struck on a small bronze flan. Reference: Sear Byzantine 170.

Issued under Justinian I, whose reign saw the codification of Roman law in the Corpus Juris Civilis, major building projects including the Hagia Sophia, and extensive military campaigns aimed at restoring former western provinces, this small bronze denomination represents the low-value coinage used for everyday market transactions in the capital; its prominent E value mark reflects the Byzantine practice of indicating bronze denominations by Greek numerals.