Nomos 18

Theodosius III of Adramytium, 715-717. Hexagram (Silver, 21 mm, 3.18 g, 6 h), struck from solidus dies, Constantinople, 715. d N ThEOdO-SIЧS MЧL A' Crowned facing bust of Theodosius II, wearing loros, holding a globe surmounted by patriarchal cross with an X at the intersection in his right hand and an anexikakia in his left. Rev. VICTORIA AЧSЧ I/ CONOB Cross potent on base and three steps. DOC 2 note. MIB 12. SB 1491. Extremely rare. With clear traces of overstriking on a hexagram of Anastasius II, otherwise, about extremely fine.

Ex Numismatica Ars Classica 92, 23 May 2016, 974.

Commonly termed 'Hexagrams' by numismatists (though by weight they certainly are not), silver coins like this were struck for ceremonial reasons from the late 6th century through at least the 1st quarter of the 7th. They are characterized by the fact that they were minted using dies intended for solidi. Those struck in the name of Theodosius III are, like those of Anastasius II, extremely rare: no examples of Theodosius's were in DO, London or Paris. It is likely that they have only begun to appear thanks to building works in Constantinople during the late 20th century. What is quite astonishing about the present piece is that not only can we clearly see traces of overstriking on the obverse, but they can actually be identified as being from the dies for a solidus/ceremonial silver of Anastasius II! Beginning on the upper left behind the bust of Theodosius we can read:...IVS A+NASTASIVS MVL A... If this reading is at least reasonably correct it probably indicates an unrecorded legend variety for Anastasius II.