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40 Nummi - Constans II Constantinopolis
| Issuer | Byzantine Empire |
|---|---|
| Year | 641-668 |
| Type | Log in to see details |
| Value | Log in to see details |
| Currency | Log in to see details |
| Composition | Log in to see details |
| Weight | Log in to see details |
| Diameter | Log in to see details |
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| Shape | Round (irregular) |
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| Obverse description | Log in to see details |
|---|---|
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| Reverse description | Large Greek letter M (mark of value denoting 40 Nummi) occupying the central field, flanked by abbreviated regnal year markers. Below the M appears the officina letter E (epsilon, denoting the fifth workshop), and the mint mark of Constantinople (CON or CONS) in the exergue. The entire design is struck on a coarse, irregularly shaped flan with significant surface corrosion and patination, typical of late issues of Constans II. |
| Reverse script | Log in to see details |
| Reverse lettering | M / E / CON |
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| Additional information |
Constans II's reign was defined by relentless military pressure — Arab forces swept through Syria, Egypt, and North Africa, stripping the empire of its wealthiest provinces and collapsing the tax base that funded the mints. The 40 nummi denomination shrank dramatically across his reign as bronze coinage was repeatedly debased in weight, which is why specimens from the same BCV type can vary so wildly in fabric and heft.
Constans himself abandoned Constantinople in 662, relocating his court to Syracuse — the first emperor to do so in centuries. He was murdered there in 668, allegedly beaten to death with a soap dish.