THE SUPPOSED BYZANTINE “MILITARY MONEY” OF JUSTIN II – A POSSIBLE NEW MINT AND AN INTRIGUING NEXUS
THE SUPPOSED BYZANTINE “MILITARY MONEY” OF JUSTIN II – A POSSIBLE NEW MINT AND AN INTRIGUING NEXUS

Summary/Abstract: Purpose of the article. This article examines two apparently unique Byzantine copper half folles (20 nummi) of Justin II, comparing them with the supposed “military coinage” and assessing what they may reveal about Byzantine administrative and military organization in the mid- to late sixth century. Novel aspects. One coin is previously unpublished. The study highlights four new points: evidence for “muling” of dies from two different military mints; a possible connection between Balkan and North African mint activity; the concept of inter-regional logistical support, potentially involving coinage; and the proposal of a new military mint in North Africa. Methodology. The research follows standard numismatic analysis of iconography, style, and inscriptions, supported by historical context. Given the limited secondary evidence and unreliable mint marks or dates on these coins, conclusions remain hypothetical. Findings. The coins belong to the Moneta Militaris Imitativa, likely struck to pay troops at special military mints. They relate to coins that were made to pay soldiers during the Gothic and Lombard campaigns. But the limited information on provenance points to the Middle East, with the possibility that the military 2 mint workers were transferred there at the end of the wars in the west.. A possible logistical nexus between Thessalonica and Carthage may reflect wider strategic pressures on Byzantine forces across multiple fronts. Conclusions. While tentative, the findings offer insight into Byzantine wartime monetary supply. The existence and locations of military mints in the Balkans and North Africa remain elusive, and the MMI concept continues to resist definitive confirmation.

• Details
• Contents