Byzantine Empire - AD 608-610 Revolt of the Heraclii Æ Follis NGC Choice XF

From the Faces in Time Collection of Ancient coinage (02).

Revolt of the Heraclii. 608-610. AE Folis. Alexandria (or Alexandretta) Mint, 1st officina. Dated Indiction Year 14 (AD 610). Obverse: facing busts of Heraclius the Younger, on left, and his father, the exarch Heraclius, on right, both bare-headed, bearded and wearing consular robes; cross above center. Reverse: large M (40 nummi); cross centered above, indiction date (X IIII) presented in right field; A (1st officiana at Alexandria Mint), AΛEXANΔ in exergue (obscured on this piece). Both sides have a beaded border. Attractive rich brown coloration on both sides. DOC 16 (Alexandretta); MIBE 16a; SB 722 (Alexandretta).

Purported letter sent to Heraclius from the prophet Muhammad; reproduction taken from Majid Ali Khan, Muhammad The Final Messenger, Islamic Book Service, New Delhi, 1998.

Research tells that starting in 608, Heraclius the exarch of Africa and his son, Heraclius the younger, began production of coinage in opposition to issues struck by the Byzantine emperor Phocas. Even though neither man held the imperial title, this coinage depicted the Heraclii in consular robes. Attacks were launched in Egypt and around the Mediterranean that culminated with the younger’s coup at Constantinople, where he was crowned and saw to the execution of his predecessor in 610. Thus he established a dynasty that would last a century, ending with the execution of Justinian II in 711.