TYPE Byzantine Empire, Justinian I (527-565 AD), bronze 33 nummi, Alexandria mint, struck 538-65 AD DESCRIPTION . Obv: Helmeted and cuirassed bust of emperor facing, holding globus cruciger, Latin legend D N IVSTINIANVS PP AVG Rev: Denomination (Greek 'lambda-gamma' = 33 nummi), cross above, mintmark ALEX in exergue REFERENCE: SB 246, DO 273 GRADING: F+ / VF, porous dark patina, bit uneven strike, rare ORDER INFO: B3078, $295 A rare type and altogether unusual denomination, characteristic for this mint alone. Alexandria produced other unusual denominations in some quantity (e.g. 6 and 12 nummi), but the exact relationship of the present type with either those or the more standard denominations remain puzzling (although they all seem to be multiples of the basic 3 nummi piece).