Byzantine Justinian I, Bronze Follis 527-565AD aVF

Issued during the reign of Justinian I the Great (AD 527–565), this impressive bronze follis represents one of the most influential periods of the Byzantine Empire. Justinian sought to restore the glory of the Roman Empire through military conquest, ambitious building projects, and sweeping legal reforms, including the famous Corpus Juris Civilis. The obverse depicts Christ holding an orb surmounted by a cross, symbolising His divine authority over the world and reflecting the Byzantine belief that imperial power was sanctioned by God.

The reverse is dominated by a large "M", denoting the coin's value of 40 nummi—the highest bronze denomination of the period. Introduced as part of Emperor Anastasius I's monetary reforms and continued under Justinian, this bold design made denominations instantly recognisable. Combining powerful Christian imagery with practical monetary innovation, the Byzantine follis remains one of the most iconic and historically significant coins of the medieval world.