Coin

“12 nummi” (denomination); DO# 213; Sear# 543 or 544. “AΛEΞ” translates to "Mint: Alexandria". This type of coin, the follis, is a large bronze coin that was introduced by the Emperor Anastasius in 498, marking a large departure from the Roman system of coinage inherited by the Byzantine Empire. It was the model for bronze Byzantine coinage for 200 years, facilitating small-scale trade and commerce. Originally, the basic follis in Constantinople was a heavy coin worth 40 nummia, with smaller follis parts equaling 20, 10, or 5 nummia. When the coin was debased and made lighter the value of it would decrease. Each provincial mints had their own divisions. In Alexandria the mint continuously produced follis parts worth 12, 6, and 3 nummia, until the province was lost to the Arab conquests. The 12 nummia coin made up the majority of the local small currency, circulating only within Egypt.

The face of the emperor on coins was a symbol of his authority. The portrait of Maurice Tiberius is not characterized to him, instead reflecting general reference for the station and title of emperor. The Christian cross on the reverse of the coin was introduced to Byzantine coinage in the 5th century, and was by the time of Tiberius quite common. It emphasized the Christian nature of both the emperor and the empire.

Byzantine coin of Maurice Tiberius, 582-602. Obverse: bust of Maurice Tiberius, facing right, with diadem; inscriptions are illegible. Reverse: large ‘I’ and ‘B’ with cross in between them; in exergue, 'AΛEΞ'.