This genuine Ancient Byzantine gold coin has been mounted in a modern 18 karat gold ring.

Few emperors possessed the political skills, military acumen, and legal mind of Justinian I. He was already a formulator of imperial policy under his uncle, Justin I. For nearly four decades he commanded an empire which regained much of its former glory under his leadership. North Africa was recovered from the Vandals, Italy liberated from the Goths, and new buildings arose in Constantinople, including the great church St. Sophia. The emperor is seen on this radiant coin facing frontally, wearing nimbus (crown) and holding a cross. On the reverse is a standing angel holding globe and cross in left band, and a long cross surmounted by Þ in the right. Justinian 1 almost single handedly held the empire together, a task his predecessors were unable to equal. This is why his reign was known as a Golden Age, beautifully represented by this lovely gold coin.