Byzantine Empire AD 565-578 Justin II Gold Solidus NGC MS – Series VI

Justin II’s foreign policy was marked by a departure from the diplomatic and monetary solutions favored by Justinian, leading to renewed hostilities with the Sassanian Empire and culminating in the costly Lazic War.

Justin II is noted for the Three Chapters controversy, which had divided the Eastern Orthodox and Western Churches.

Suffering from periods of mental instability, Justin II eventually abdicated the throne in 574, naming Tiberius II Constantine as his Caesar and later his successor. This decision marked one of the few peaceful transitions of power in the Byzantine Empire’s history, setting a precedent for the orderly succession that was often lacking in imperial politics.