Justin II was the nephew of Justinian I. He was selected as Justinian's successor prior to the death of Justinian. His uncle's ambitious policies and conquests proved to be to much for Justin, both financially and logistically. Justin II was not as successful a ruler as his uncle. Within five years most of Italy was again in the hands of the Lombards, and the Visigoths had mounted a successful campaign to take back that portion of Spain which Justinian I had rested from them. As Justin became mentally ill, he appointed Tiberius, Count of the Excubitors, as Caesar in 574 A.D. In 578 A.D., when Justin's condition worsened, Tiberius was raised to the rank of Augustus and co-emperor. Shortly afterward Justin died.

These wonderful Byzantine period gold pieces feature a helmeted Justin facing and holding globus with victory on the obverse. The reverse shows Constantinopolis seated on throne, holding a spear on left and globus with cross on right.