An very rare solidus of Heraclius with the image that Phocas used on the obverse of his coins.  This piece was produced by an uncertain mint (Alexandria, Cyprus, Jerusalem or a traveling military Mint), most likely immediately after the death of Phocas.  These piece exhibits the slight weakness around the legends (much less than normal), but the centers of both sides are remarkable and therefore, this example  is one of the best known.  This piece weighs 4.48g.  There is a similar piece of Phocas in the collection (W18 - Jerusalem/Cyprus) that has IE at the end of the reverse legend, where this piece has IN.  Much speculation has arisen, but little fact about the series of coins with these double letter officinae's.

April 1999 Imitative Piece of the Month
 

A Beneventum solidus of Gottschalk (739-742). This is a another variety of a rare Beneventum solidus.  It is interesting that these pieces still use the obverse legends of Justinian I, even though 200 years had past since his reign.  The piece weighs 3.87g and has a smoke like patina which is fairly common on coins of Beneventum.  I believe that this is due to the debasement of the coinage by mixing silver and the silver has oxidized.  And like all other Beneventum pieces, I feel that it is currently undervalued for the true rarity.