This coin belongs to the reign of Justinian II, a critical period in the evolution of Byzantine coinage. Justinian II was the first emperor to establish the depiction of the Christ on the obverse of gold solidi. Until then the obverse was occupied by the emperor's head, a practice that began in the Hellenistic period and became established in the Roman period. This particular solidus depicts the Christ on the front and the emperor on the back; they both stand in a frontal position and the emperor holds a cross. Both sides bear typical abbreviated inscriptions. The iconography points to Justinian's first reign in AD 685-695. This coin was minted in Constantinople at the end of the seventh century AD.