DN FOCAS PP AV, pearl diademed, draped, cuirassed bust right (unbearded) / Large U. 15mmx12mm, 1.85 grams. Constantinople mint. Sear Byz 647; DOC 40.

Emperor Phocas ruled the Byzantine Empire from 602 to 610 CE, coming to power after leading a military revolt that overthrew Emperor Maurice. His reign was marked by brutality, widespread executions, and political instability, earning him a reputation as a harsh and unpopular ruler. Under Phocas, the empire faced severe external threats, including invasions by the Sassanid Persians, who used Maurice’s murder as a pretext to launch a devastating war. His inability to manage internal dissent and foreign crises led to his overthrow by Heraclius in 610 CE, after which Phocas was captured and executed. His reign is often remembered as a period of chaos and decline for the empire.