Civilization: Byzantine Empire
Ruler: Justin II
Mint: Nicomedia
Year: 577 - 578 AD
Composition: Bronze
Denomination: Follis
Diameter: 30.0mm
Weight: 12.47g
Reference:

Obverse
Justin, holding globus cruciger, and Sophia, holding cruciform scepter, seated facing on double throne, both nimbate; cross above and between their heads.

Reverse
Large M; cross above, A/N/N/O to left, X/II/I to right (regnal year 13 = 577/8AD ); B below, mintmark NIKO (Nicomedia) in exergue.

Justin II (r. 565–578 AD), nephew and successor of Justinian I, struggled to uphold his uncle's legacy amidst mounting challenges. Determined to assert independence, Justin halted tribute payments to the Sassanian Empire, sparking a costly and protracted conflict on the eastern front. Meanwhile, in Italy, the Lombards invaded, seizing much of the Italian peninsula and diminishing Byzantine control. Justin's military decisions drained the empire’s resources, and he faced unrest in the Balkans due to Avar and Slavic incursions.

Internally, Justin II’s rule was marked by a decline in stability, worsened by his deteriorating mental health. By 574, he suffered severe mental breakdowns, which led him to appoint the capable Tiberius II as Caesar and co-emperor to manage state affairs. Despite early ambitions, Justin’s reign ended with the empire overstretched and weakened. Tiberius effectively ruled in his stead until Justin’s death in 578, inheriting an empire facing multiple fronts of crisis. Justin’s reign underscored the challenges of maintaining Justinian’s vast, diverse territories amid shifting political and military landscapes.