Emperor Phocas Coin

Eastern Roman Emperor from 602 to 610 AD

Byzantine empire (late Imperial Roman)

Obverse: d N FOCAS PERP AVI, Crowned, draped, and cuirassed facing bust, holding globus cruciger.
Reverse: :VICTORIA AVGU E, Angel standing facing, holding staff surmounted by a Christogram and globus cruciger

Weighs: 2.59 g

Measures: 16mm x 15.8mm x 1.7mm

Phocas was born in about 547 and became a usurping emperor at the age of 55. He is known to have been a centurion when he was chosen by the army to take the overthrown Maurice’s place. He was raised on a shield, the traditional way to declare an emperor, in 602. Maurice fled Constantinople (by now the seat of the Roman empire) with his sons but they were later executed followed by his wife and their daughters.