Nomos 37

Justinian II, first reign, 685-695. Solidus (Gold, 19.5 mm, 4.49 g, 7 h), Constantinople, Θ = 9th officina, 686/687 or later. IЧSTINIA – NЧS PЄAV Draped bust of Justinian II facing, beardless, wearing a crown topped with a cross and circlet, and holding a globus cruciger in his right hand. Rev. VICTORIA – AVςЧ Θ / CONOB Cross potent on three steps. DOC 2 var. = MIB 2 var. = SB 1243 var. (unrecorded officina). Cf. Classical Numismatic Group 126, 28 May 2024, 965 (same dies, but misdescribed as DOC 4). Cf. Obolos 7, 9 July 2017, 545 (same obverse die). Cf. Sincona 3, 25 October 2011, 3364 (same obverse die). Obverse struck with a heavily rusted die, otherwise, extremely fine.

At first glance, this solidus appears to depict Justinian II with a short beard, which would correspond with DOC 4 (Justinian II has a short beard consisting of a row of dots). However, examining other solidi struck from the same obverse die shows that this is not the case.
Sincona 3, 2011, 3364 presents a solidus clearly struck from the same obverse die, but of a much earlier die state. Die rust is minimal, only noticeable around Justinian's right eyebrow and upper neck. His chin is clearly beardless.

Moving on to Obolos 7 in 2017, lot 545 displays more die rust, with minor amounts appearing on the chin.
Finally, when we turn to CNG 126, 2024, 965, and Obolos 9, 2018, 469, we find two coins struck from the same dies as ours. Both solidi have been cataloged as DOC 4; however, when we follow the development of the die, we can see that this obverse die depicts a beardless Justinian II. And what looks like a beard is actually die rust!