In AD 491 the empress Ariadne chose Flavius Anastasius I, a former finance civil servant renowned for his financial expertise, to succeed the late Zeno as the new emperor in the East. On the military front Anastasius had to deal with the Isaurian (492 - 496) and Persian (502 - 505) wars. He was also responsible for the construction of the Anastasian wall as protection for Constantinople and the Balkan provinces.

In 498 a dramatic reform of bronze currency took place and the nummis became the unit of account with the follis worth 40 nummi. From this time on the art of coin portraiture declined. Byzantine imperial representations became more stylised and depersonalised, and eventually the Roman profile bust was replaced by a fully facing bust of the emperor. The image of the emperor, however, remained in essence military.

Initially Anastasius gained the favour of the people for his lenient tax remission, however, in later years his financial policy made him unpopular in the provinces and a rebellion under Vitalian was suppressed by Anastasius' naval commander Marinus, shortly before his death. Anastasius was the last Roman emperor to be deified.

Obv. Anastasius diademed, draped, cuirassed breast right, D. N. ANASTASIVS P. P. AVG.
Rev. Denomination large M (= 40 nummi) between two stars, decorative cross above, letter B (workshop) below, CON in ex. (= Constantinople mint). Romaion (Byzantine) empire.