PERPLEXING AND ELUSIVE: THE LATER COPPER COINAGE OF RAVENNA UNDER CONSTANS II

While, like that of his grandfather, the copper coinage of Constans II (reigned 641–68) is based around the depiction of family members, at Ravenna it is simpler and appears to be considerably rarer than that of Heraclius. The second and final issue of the reign (DOC Class 2) is described in the catalogues of the major public collections only in terms of the follis of 40 nummi. The corresponding half follis is known but often misdescribed. This short paper aims to pull together the various disparate sources and to provide a clear set of references for the coins. Doing so exposes the unexpected dating arrangements that appear on some of the coins and makes possible a discussion of their possible significance. It may add something to the picture of social and economic changes in the life of Ravenna and its harbor area during the mid-seventh century.