Solidus of Phocas
Blundered legend, --- PERP AVG, facing bust of Phocas, with mustache, pointed beard, and hair at side of the head; draped and cuirassed, with crown with cross on orb, holding globus cruciger in left hand / VICTORIA AVGU; officina letter (I); victory figure standing frontal, holding staff with Christogram in left hand and globus cruciger in right hand; reverse N beneath at right; mintmark CONOB, double-died.
The emperor Phocas (Greek: Φωκᾶς), r. 602-610, is depicted as sole emperor. Phocas reintroduced the Victory figure holding a long staff with a Christogram or a long cross, which was replaced with a cross potent on steps by Tiberius II Constantine (r. 574-582) and reinstated by Heraclius in 610.
Provenience: CN 270, Found in Room H along with other coins and jewelry of the Our Lady Monastery, Beth Shean, 1930
Date: 602–610 C.E.
Length: 18mm
Weight: AV; 4.49 g
Object Number: 31-50-395 (Field No. 30-10-369)
Further Reading:
Fitzgerald, Gerald M. 1939. A Sixth Century Monastery at Beth-Shan. Plate 4, Figs. 1-2.
Israeli, Yael and David Mevorah. 2000. Cradle of Christianity. Fig. 95.
CN 270, This object was found in Room H along with other coins and jewelry of the Our Lady Monastery, Beth Shean, 1930. Plan from Fitzgerald, Gerald M. 1939. A Sixth Century Monastery at Beth-Shan, plate II.