TYPE Byzantine Empire, Leo III Isaurian (717-741 AD), bronze follis, Syracuse mint DESCRIPTION . Obv: Leo III bearded, facing, wearing crown and long tunic and holding akakia and short cross, Greek legend LEON DESP (partial) Rev: Constantine V, beardless, also wearing crown and long tunic and holding akakia and short cross; Greek legends KONS DESP (partial) REFERENCE: DO 55.1 var., cf. SB 1531 GRADING: AVF / VF, encrusted olive green patina, very rare variant of scarce type ORDER INFO: B2630, $135 A rare "variant" which we consider really to be a different type, not explicitly published as such. D. Oaks gives a specimen (DO 55.1), but comments on it as an "incompetent die sinker" not executing the chlamys and akakia (in one hand only) properly on either side. In reality, the attire both are wearing (quite clear here on the Constantine side) is the "long tunic", known occasionally on Syracusan coinage of the that era (e.g. Tiberius III - DO 33 / SB 1396), and their elbows are extended the way they are because each is clearly holding akakia in his left, and a short cross in his right hand.