Justinian I Follis Coins: Build a Set by Regnal Year and Mint
Justinian I Follis Coins: Build a Set by Regnal Year and Mint
The large-M bronze that dates itself, one of numismatics' most satisfying projects.
Justinian I follis coins offer one of ancient numismatics' most satisfying date-and-mint collecting projects.
Many of his large bronze coins identify the denomination, mint, workshop, and emperor's regnal year directly on the reverse. Instead of simply asking which coin to buy next, you can build a chronological map of a reign that transformed the sixth-century Roman world.
Who Was Justinian I?
Justinian I ruled the Eastern Roman Empire from AD 527 to 565. His reign included the reconquest of North Africa and much of Italy, the rebuilding of Hagia Sophia after the Nika revolt, the compilation of the Corpus Juris Civilis, long wars with the Sasanian Empire, and the pandemic commonly called the Plague of Justinian. Justinian and his subjects understood their state as Roman: "Byzantine Empire" is a useful modern historical label, but it was not the name Justinian used.
What Is a Justinian Follis?
Collectors conventionally call the large copper 40-nummi denomination a follis. Its reverse is dominated by a large M, the Greek numeral for 40. Justinian did not invent the denomination, Anastasius I's bronze reform of AD 498 introduced the clearly marked 40-, 20-, and 10-nummi denominations, with a 5-nummi piece added later in his reign.
Why Are Justinian's Dated Folles Special?
In Justinian's regnal year 12, AD 538/539, a major copper reform introduced much larger folles and systematic regnal-year dating on the major bronze denominations. This means a collector can often place the coin within a specific year of Justinian's reign rather than only a broad date range.
- M, the 40-nummi denomination mark
- ANNO, which introduces the regnal year
- A regnal-year numeral, read beside the large M
- A mint signature, in the exergue
- An officina or workshop mark
The familiar post-reform dated M-follis series begins with Year 12, corresponding to AD 538/539. Earlier bronze coins of Justinian exist but belong to the pre-reform system and do not form a normal ANNO I through ANNO XI run. Read the numeral beside the large M and combine it with Justinian's accession chronology, Byzantine dates can span parts of two modern calendar years, so catalogs often write a date such as AD 538/539. Numerals can be partly off the flan or worn, so confirm the date with mint, officina, style, weight, and standard references.
Major Mints to Collect
- Constantinople, the imperial capital, a natural foundation for many date collections
- Nicomedia, a major mint in northwestern Asia Minor with many dated issues
- Antioch / Theoupolis, renamed "City of God" after the AD 526 earthquake, with signatures such as THEUP
- Cyzicus, an important mint on the Propontis with another substantial eastern series
- Other mints, Thessalonica, Carthage, Rome, and Ravenna, with Alexandria's distinct regional system
Portrait style, module, mint signatures, and officina structures can differ dramatically between mints, which is exactly what makes a by-mint comparison rewarding.
How to Build a Justinian Follis Collection
- Phase 1, timeline core, start with several readable dates spread across the post-reform reign, an early reform coin, a mid-reign issue, and a late issue; readability matters more than "key years"
- Phase 2, expand the date run, add as many regnal years as practical, a complete run is challenging because availability varies by year and mint
- Phase 3, add mint variety, compare Constantinople, Nicomedia, Cyzicus, Antioch/Theoupolis, and western mints
- Phase 4, specialize, multiple mints for the same year, officina varieties, half folles and smaller denominations, western issues, and scarcer combinations
You can identify coins struck during the years the Plague of Justinian affected the empire, including Constantinople in the early 540s, but a coin's date does not prove that the individual piece circulated in a particular outbreak or event, the responsible connection is chronological. Prices vary with mint, date, rarity, module, portrait, centering, surfaces, weight, and readability. For a date collection, a clearly visible regnal year and mint can make a modest coin more useful than a prettier example whose date cannot be read.
Hold what the greats held.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does M mean on a Justinian follis?
M is the Greek numeral for 40 and identifies the 40-nummi denomination.
What does ANNO mean?
ANNO introduces the emperor's regnal-year date.
What year is Justinian Year 12?
It corresponds to AD 538/539 and marks the beginning of the familiar large, dated post-reform bronze series.
What is the easiest Justinian mint to collect?
Constantinople is usually the natural starting point because its output was extensive, although individual dates and varieties vary in rarity.
Are all Justinian folles huge?
No. Size and weight changed during the reign and vary by mint and issue. The Year 12 reform created especially large folles, but there is no single diameter or weight for every one.
History wasn't just written. It was minted.
Browse Justinian Folles at Kinzer Coins
Authentic large-M Byzantine folles from the reign of Justinian I, datable by year and mint, guaranteed authentic, with 30-day returns.
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