AD 602–610 Byzantine Gold Solidus of Emperor Phocas NGC

Seventh Century Gold Solidus Features One of History’s Greatest Villains

When it comes to fulfilling the role of an evil villain, Byzantine Emperor Phocas had all his bases covered. A low-level bureaucrat and one-time centurion. Phocas rose to power in A.D. 602. Contemporary scholars described him as a “terrestrial leviathan,” “Gorgon-faced,” “barbarian half-breed,” “Cyclops,” and “Centaur.” To be sure, Phocas was not an attractive man. His physical appearance bordered on the grotesque with tangled red hair, thick beetling eyebrows, and a huge angry scar across his face. Even later-day historians were repulsed by the man they described as a debauched, drunken, and pathologically cruel tyrant who they blamed for almost every problem that plagued the Byzantines from the institutional breakdown of the empire to indirectly causing the Moslem conquests!

One Of The Most Perverse And Ferocious Tyrants To Ever Wear The Imperial Diadem

In life as well as in death, Phocas was a shapeless monster and perhaps one of the most perverse and ferocious tyrants to ever wear the imperial diadem. He was a devil-worshipper as evidenced by his shoulder regalia that consisted of an upside down cross which at that time was a symbol associated with satanism. He even popularized blinding and castration as instruments of punishment and torture that were practiced long after his death in 610.

If nothing else, however, Phocas was an opportunist. While a member of the army Phocas ingratiated himself with the troops and when they became dissatisfied with their pay and treatment, he was able to weasel his way onto the delegation sent to Constantinople in 602 to air their grievances with Emperor Maurice. Once in Constantinople he assumed the role of spokesman and took advantage of revolts in the capital to get himself chosen emperor in place of Maurice, who, together with his son, was executed. His popularity soared early on because he lowered taxes, but after executing all rivals, real and imagined, and replacing them with family members and trusted friends, Phocas quickly proved to be an incompetent ruler wholly unable to meet the challenges of handling a crisis. It wasn’t long before Phocas was deposed by one of his own government appointees who seized power and had him publicly executed.

Verified Authentic By NGC

Also known as the Eastern Roman Empire, Ancient Byzantium lasted from around 330 to 1453, so despite Phocas’ worst efforts, the empire continued without him for another 800 years. Here you have a Gold Solidus featuring the portrait of Emperor Phocas complete with his unflattering shaggy beard. Each coin was struck in about 4.5 grams of gold and measures approximately 21 mm in diameter. Although these coins are not graded, they are verified as authentic by the Numismatic Guaranty Company (NGC). With minimal wear and clear devices, these coins would likely grade in Mint State (MS) condition!

Emperor Phocas was truly Byzantine—complicated, inflexible, rigid, and unyielding—even by Byzantine standards. Now you can hold his fate in your hands when you acquire one of these fascinating coins that are practically dripping with the bloody history of the days and years following the fall of Rome and the Western Roman Empire!