TYPE Byzantine Empire, Justin II (565-578 AD), bronze follis, Nikomedia mint, struck 572-3 AD, 14.31g DESCRIPTION . Obv: Justin and Sophia enthroned, crowned and holding globus cruciger and scepter respectively Rev: Denomination (M = 40 nummi), ANNO to left, regnal year 8 to right, officina "alpha" below, Latin mint mark NIKO in ex. REFERENCE: SB 369, DO 100b.3 GRADING: AVF / VF, bit rough glossy dark brown-green patina, uneven strike, rare variant ORDER INFO: B2874, $65 Better than average specimen of this type, additionally peculiar for the characteristically pleasingly proportioned obverse style (and neater reverse devices), typical more of Theupolis (and rarely Kyzikos) and contrasted with the usual style of the mainstream mints, whose rather grotesque renditions of the imperial couple have unfortunately become somewhat of a numismatic hallmark of the bronze issues of this reign. D. Oaks notes this exceptional issue for Nikomedia with two listed specimens, citing different explanations. However, those two (while also of officina A) are restricted to regnal year 10 and with different epigraphy for 'A'; the present piece proves that these exceptional types perhaps had greater variation and longevity.