Byzantine Bronze Follis of Justinian I (about 1,485 years ago)

Large bronze follis of Justinian I, struck in AD 539 during the height of his ambitious program to restore Roman imperial greatness. Reigning from 527 to 565, Justinian sought not merely to rule the Eastern Roman (Byzantine) Empire, but to reclaim the lost western provinces and revive Roman glory.

The obverse features a striking frontal portrait of Justinian crowned and robed, holding a globus cruciger — a powerful symbol of Christian imperial authority. The reverse displays a large “M,” denoting 40 nummi, the standard follis denomination introduced in earlier Byzantine reforms. Above appears a cross, while the regnal year (ANNO) and mintmark anchor the coin firmly within Justinian’s structured monetary system.

By AD 539, Justinian’s generals — notably Belisarius and later Narses — had reconquered North Africa from the Vandals and much of Italy from the Ostrogoths. His reign also produced the Corpus Juris Civilis, a monumental legal codification that would shape European law for centuries. In Constantinople, he rebuilt the magnificent Hagia Sophia, one of the greatest architectural achievements of late antiquity.

Encapsulated and authenticated, this follis represents the cultural and military zenith of early Byzantium — a bold bronze from the emperor who sought to restore Rome’s empire and legacy.

Note: Coins shown are representative examples of the grade and style. You will receive a certified coin consistent with the stated NGC grade and type.