Byzantine Empire, Maurice Tiberius, 13 August 582 - 22 November 602 A.D.
BZ116275. Bronze follis, DOC I 99a var. (obv. leg.), Wroth BMC 135 var. (same), Tolstoi 127, SBCV 512 var. (same), cf. Morrisson BnF I 7/Ni/AE/06 (same obv. die, year 6), gF, green patina, light scratches, unusual ragged flan with chopped edge, 11.953g, 30.8mm, 180o, 1st officina, Nicomedia (Izmit, Turkey) mint, Dm N TI-bER IVC (blundered), helmeted and cuirassed bust facing, globus cruciger in right hand, shield in left hand; reverse large M (40 nummi) between A/N/N/O in a downward column and ς/III in two lines (year 9), cross above, A (first officina) below, NIKO in exergue
The obverse legend is blundered. It should read, D N m TI-bER AVG, abbreviating Dominus Noster Maurice Tiberius Augustus - Our Lord, Maurice Tiberius, Emperor.
Maurice Tiberius, a successful general, was selected by Tiberius II Constantine as his successor. He achieved a favorable peace with Persia and stemmed losses in Italy and Africa, much of the Balkans were lost. Focas, a junior officer, revolted. Maurice and Theodosius, his son and co-emperor, were captured and murdered.