Long ago I created a web site on the mintmarks of Justinian at Antioch, which was renamed Theopolis (city of God) after two major earthquakes destroyed much of the city. The coins and the story are here: http://augustuscoins.com/ed/interesting/Justinian.html If you already read the previous version there is not much new. But today I increased the font size, illustrated the various mintmarks up top (with links to the coins), and generally improved the navigation. Here is my favorite coin on the page with its mintmark first: "θVΠO" is close to spelling out Theoupolis. Sear 218B. 40-nummia. 39 mm, 20.77 grams. Mintmark: θVΠO on a large follis of year 13. The reform which yielded this new, larger, coin started in year 12 at Constantinople but did not begin at Antioch until year 13 and none were issued in year 14 or 15 (probably due to the invasion of Khusru mentioned on the site). The mintmark switched to Latin in year 16 (see the year-16 coin on the site), so, this short-version mintmark was used only in year 13 making this a one-year type.
This is incredible! Very beautiful coin. Thank you for the writeup, Warren. I have been on the lookout for nice Justinian folles from Antioch for half a year now. I love the style of the bordering. Here's my Theuopolis Maruice follis: EDIT: From your write-up, the following coin has what I'm referring to; the lovely style of the bordering.
An improvement to an already excellent page. Since your previous post linking it, I have picked up an Antioch Justinian: Year 36, and the "P" in the mintmark is a bit degenerate. Also useful when you need an x-acto blade (I think Doug has a similar flan).
When you want to chop onions, why use a knife when you have a perfectly good Justinian decanummium to do the trick.
I like my well centered Justinian half follis from Antioch from the issue that used full follis obverse dies so I have no obverse legend at all. Off center coins have better detail. My Antioch ten nummi is year 34 and boringly smooth. My razor-follis is a Heraclius so not appropriate here. Right facing folles retain facial details better than frontal ones. I call this style more 'interesting' than 'fine'.
I have a few Justinian coins from Atioch. This one with "THEUP" and crosses.... This one with the "funky P"... This one with a crazy "QHЧΠ(dot above)" ? Is that right?
This one has lots of wear, but the portrait style seems a little finer than a lot of these side-view types I've seen: Byzantine Empire - Æ Follis Justinian I (c. 528-537 A.D.) Antioch Mint DN IVSTINIANVS PP AVG, bust right / Large M, star left and right, cross above, Officina Γ below, mintmark +THЄV o-over-P+ in ex. SB 216 DOC 210 (30mm/15g.)
