A solid gold ancient Byzantine solidus of Emperor Constans II, struck in indictional Year 7 (648/9 A.D.) at the Constantinople mint. 

The obverse depicts the facing bust of Constans with short beard and moustache, wearing cross topped crown and chlamys, and holding globus cruciger. The legend reading: d[ominvs] N[oster] CONSτANτINЧS P[ater] P[atriae] AV[gvstvs] - "Our Lord Constantinus, Father of the People, Augustus" 

The reverse shows cross potent on three steps. The legend reads; VICTORIA AVG[vstvs] ЧHz. - "To the Victory of the Augustus" 

CONOB in exergue - Literally translated as, "Constantinopoli obryzum". The solidus weighed 1/72 (4.45g) of the Roman pound. "OB" was used as both an abbreviation for the word obryzum, translated as, 'refined' or 'pure gold' and as the Greek numeral 72. Thus, the exergue inscription CONOB may be read "Constantinople, 1/72 pound pure gold." -- Byzantine Coinage by Philip Grierson 

Diameter: 20 mm. Weight: 4.40 g.

Provenance: Ex English collection. artancientltd