HERACLIUS WITH A SWORD APPROACH TO AN OFTEN OVER LOOKED BYZANTINE COPPER COIN

In 2001 a follis was published showing the Byzantine emperor Heraclius in military dress and additionally with a sword and his son Heraclius Constantine as usual in chlamys. The purpose of this article, the authors examine the question of whether this follis and its fractions should be regarded as variants of the well-known Class 5 coins (Heraclius in military dress but without a sword) or as a separate type. Scientific novelty. The sword coins – are they varieties of Class 5 or a new type? There has been no conclusive answer but the general opinion favours a straightforward variety. This view is questioned by the authors who examine the sword coins in their historical context. Conclusions. The sword coins are clearly a substantive new type that was produced for a specific occasion. Their issue in Thessalonica by the rarely observed officina Є could speak in favour of a kind of special coinage. The authors also address the question: where did the Class 5 and sword coins mainly circulate? Summarising the evidence: first, the statistical findings of the Israel Antiquities Authority point to Palestine; second, a number of sword coins show countermarks probably of Syrian origin; third, copper coins struck after the Arab conquest of the Syrian region (circa 636) show that the sword coins were often imitated. Keywords: Byzantium, Heraclius, Jerusalem, copper coins