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Byzantine Empire
Phocas
Solidus Gold Coin
(Fifth Workshop)
拜占庭帝國
福卡斯
索利都斯金幣
(第五作坊)
Item number: A1170
Year: AD 602-610
Material: Gold
Size: 21.4 x 19.8 x 0.7 mm
Weight: 4.45 g
Manufactured by: Constantinople mint (Fifth Workshop)
Provenance: Morton & Eden 2024
This is a solidus gold coin minted in Constantinople during the reign of Phocas, Emperor of the Byzantine Empire from AD 602 to 610. The obverse depicts the emperor himself, wearing a cross-adorned crown, symbolising the foundational role of Christianity in the legitimacy of the empire. The pendilia, decorative elements hanging from the sides of the crown, are characteristic of Byzantine style and influenced the crown designs of the Visigothic Kingdom and the Kingdom of Hungary. The emperor is dressed in a chlamys, a cloak with scalloped edges that reflects Greek influences. Although the chlamys was not the emperor’s most formal attire—the loros held that distinction—it was nonetheless worn by high-ranking officials on formal occasions. The surrounding Latin inscription reads: “Our Lord Phocas, Perpetual Augustus” (dN FOCAS PERP AVI).
The reverse features a standing angel at the centre, holding a cross-topped sceptre in the right hand and a globus cruciger (a globe surmounted by a cross) in the left, symbolising divine authority and Christian dominion. The surrounding Latin inscription, VICTORIA AV sчє, translates to “Victory of Augustus, fifth workshop ,” indicating the victory of the emperor and specifying the mint workshop. The letters “CON” at the bottom stand for Constantinople, the mint location, while “OB” signifies that the coin is made of pure gold (obryzum).
Phocas’s rise to power is closely linked to the preceding emperor Maurice’s loss of control over the military and the provinces. Facing multiple military fronts—such as the Avars along the Danube and the Lombards in the Italian peninsula—Maurice’s reign saw a significant increase in military expenses coupled with a decline in tax revenues. In an attempt to reduce costs, Maurice enacted austerity measures, which led to a mutiny within the army. As the leader of the rebel forces, Phocas was welcomed into Constantinople by the populace and quickly assumed power. Afterward, he had Maurice and members of his family executed, securing his position as emperor.
Lacking a legitimate claim to the throne based on hereditary or familial ties, Phocas emphasised the religious legitimacy conferred upon him. He maintained good relations with Rome, recognising the primacy of the pope in religious matters, which earned him praise from Pope Gregory I. A column was even erected in his honour in Rome. However, his over emphasis on religious orthodoxy and persecution of heresy sparked discontent among the provinces of North Africa and the Near East, where many residents adhered to Monophysitism—a belief that rejected the Chalcedonian Council’s doctrine of Christ having both a divine and human nature.
At the same time, Khosrow II, the Sasanian Persian emperor, used the murder of his benefactor, Maurice (who had helped him reclaim his throne), as a pretext to invade the Byzantine Empire’s eastern frontier. He recaptured territories that had previously been ceded to Byzantium. With Byzantine control over its provinces weakening, the empire struggled to muster resources to reclaim lost lands. The Persian forces managed to occupy all of Syria, Palestine, and parts of the Egyptian provinces, with these territories only being recovered during the reign of Heraclius. This twenty-year conflict placed a heavy burden on both empires, creating favourable conditions for the rise of the Arabs.
Ironically, after Phocas ascended the throne, there were initial signs of improvement in the war with Persia. However, a revolt led by the governor of North Africa, Heraclius, and his son caused widespread chaos across the provinces, leaving the empire’s frontier defences vulnerable. Eventually, the rebel forces gained control of the navy, won a decisive victory in Egypt, and landed in Constantinople. The city’s defence commander switched sides, leading to Phocas’s capture. He met the same fate as his predecessor, executed by the usurper, Heraclius.