This gold solidus was issued during the reign of Justinian II and is one of the most historically significant coins of the Byzantine era. The obverse famously depicts Christ Pantocrator, marking the first time a living religious figure appeared on an imperial gold coin, a radical departure from earlier Roman traditions. The reverse shows Emperor Justinian II holding a cross potent, emphasizing divine authority and the fusion of church and state. The coin represents a pivotal moment in numismatic, religious, and political history, reflecting Byzantium’s transformation into a distinctly Christian empire.

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