TYPE Byzantine Empire, Tiberius III Apsimar (698-705 AD), bronze follis, Syracuse mint, 2.81g DESCRIPTION . Obv: Anepigraphic, Tiberius' facing cuirassed bust, holding spear over shoulder, star (cross?) in field Rev: Denomination (M = 40 nummi) flanked by palm trees, Tiberius monogram above, mintmark [SCL] below REFERENCE: BE 261, cf. SB 1395, cf. SB 1496 (Theodosius) GRADING: VF, typical uneven strike, dark green patina, extremely rare ORDER INFO: B2764, $225 A the only published mention of this type is from the 1989 Berk-England auction (lot 261, styled "unpublished", sold for $242 total). The reverse monogram is clearly that of Tiberius and the mint Syracuse obvious by style. However, the normal (though still quite rare) type, SB 1395 - DO 32) has the emperor with spear before the body, not transverse as is clearly the case here. Also, in the left obv. field appears to be a cross (rather than star), and moreover something in right, though it's no clear if it is die break or a legitimate device. (Incidentally, a similar obv. bust is characteristic of the reign of Theodosius III, some 15 years later, though even there it appears to be an anomaly, as Grierson in D. Oaks states: "The only coin of abnormal type is a Sicilian follis on which the Emperor is shown with a shouldered spear as well as loros; the monogram is decisive for its identification".