Justinian I · Carthage nummus from Tas-Silġ

534–539 (published catalogue range) · Byzantine Empire — Justinian I

Excavation catalogue no 85 identifies a Justinian I bronze nummus struck at Carthage and found in the Tas-Silġ deposit. An imperial bust faces right; the reverse has A within a wreath. Corrosion makes the possible mark below uncertain. This is a Maltese find of a foreign-mint coin.

Technical specifications

Composition
Bronze
Mint
Carthage (foreign mint; found in Malta)
Weight
Unknown / not verified
Diameter
Unknown / not verified
Fineness
Unknown / not verified
Total mintage
Unknown / not verified
Edge
Unknown / not verified
Colour
Unknown / not verified
Serial format
Unknown / not verified

The assemblage came from beneath a basin interpreted as a baptismal font. Perassi discusses bronze coins as possible baptismal offerings. The deposit includes material of different dates; the coin’s manufacture date is not a date for every item’s deposition.

A documented specimen

These are measurements of excavated specimen 85, not nominal production standards.

Collection
Tas-Silġ excavation, specimen 85 in Perassi 2005
Catalogue reference
Perassi 2005 no 85, figure 12.2; MIB I no 199 (table reference)
Specimen date
534–539 (published catalogue range)
Specimen weight
0.34 g (excavated specimen)
Specimen diameter
8 mm (excavated specimen)
Findspot
Tas-Silġ, Malta — basin/baptismal-font deposit
Excavation context
US 4562; field reference D st.b (published table)
Condition
Corroded; possible mark beneath A uncertain

Dating and classification

Perassi’s specimen catalogue gives 534–539, while the university abstract gives 537–538. The discussion places it before the 538/539 reform. The broader catalogue range is retained; an exact year is unknown.

Sources

Checked:

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