½ Tremissis.
Obv. (D)N TIbE - RI PP AVG Draped, cuirassed bust with diadem to r.
Rev. UICTORI MAVRI AVG Cross, CONOB below.
Sear -. DOC -. MIBE -.
0.72 g. Very rare. Very thin planchet. Wrinkling and smoothing but clearly legible.
Half tremissis are not edited in the literature but do come up infrequently in the trade. Whitting 1973 writes on p. 173: one knows half tremisses from the time of Justinus, Phocas, Heraclius, Constans II, Philippicus, Anastasius II and Leo III.
Philipp Grierson in ´´Byzantine Coins´´ p. 56: ´´The half tremissis as a denomination is known for Justinus II and Phocas. The coins are struck with tremissis dies, but their very thin flans and low weights (c, 0.80 g.) justify us in regarding them as specimens of a separate denomination, not as cut-down tremisses´´. Grierson adds thatHalf Tremisses are recorded for Constantinus IV and Philippicus (p. 100), Leo III (p.354, Pl. 36) and Tiberius III from Rome (p. 143).