The Lombards, whose capital was the town of Pavia in Italy, allegedly in 570/571 AD founded the Duchy of Benevento somewhat further to the south. Before, the territory of Benevento had been in the sphere of influence of the Byzantine Empire. This is why the duchy belonged economically rather to the Byzantine area than to Lombardy. The dukes of Benevento therefore issued gold coins in Byzantine style, like this solidus of Duke Sico I (817-832). The obverse depicts a frontal bust of the duke and the reverse shows the archangel Michael, the one who weighs the sous of the departed on Judgment Day to balance their good deeds against their bad ones.