An extremely rare solidus of Constans II (641 - 668) that is proposed to be struck in Cherson.  The differences are in the obverse legend (ends in AV instead of AVG) and the reverse legend (ends in IX).  This coin also has a retrograde N in CONOB in the exergue of the reverse.  During the reigns of Heraclius, Constans II and Constantine IV there were many pieces with different identification marks at the end of CONOB, in the reverse fields or at the end of the reverse legends.  To this day, there are only theories as to there meaning.  This is one such piece.  Hahn attributes two pieces of Heraclius and three of Constans II as being struck from Cherson by having the terminal X at the end of the reverse legend.  This is the 2nd recorded piece of the type (MIB 54) with different obverse and reverse dies.  The piece weighs 4.27 and shows no signs of clipping, etc.  A very interesting piece and something to possibly to start a study on.

December 1998 Imitative Piece of the Month
 

An obvious contemporary imitative piece of Heraclius, possibly struck in Indian or Persia.  Pieces such as this display fairly closes images of the obverse and reverse to normal pieces with the exception of the total blundering of the legends.  This piece weighs 3.51g which is normal for these pieces.  They are generally 25% light or better.