PHOCAS 607 AD GOLD SOLIDUS Byzantine gold Coin Angel

Crowned bust of Phocas, diademed and cuirassed, holding a cruciger globe in his right hand., Angel standing facing, holding a long Chrism cross in his right hand and a cruciferous globe in his left.,

Mint Constantinople.

607-610 (602-610)

1 Solidus

Weight 4.25g

Diameter 21 mm

Condition obverse XF

Condition reverse some material on reverse

Staurogram

The Staurogram (meaning monogram of the cross, from the Greek σταυρός, i.e. cross), or Monogrammatic Cross or Tau-Rho symbol, is composed by a tau (Τ) superimposed on a rho (Ρ). The Staurogram was first used to abbreviate the Greek word for cross in very early New Testament manuscripts such as P66, P45 and P75, almost like a nomen sacrum, and may visually have represented Jesus on the cross.