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Home ▸ Catalog ▸ |Byzantine Coins| ▸ |Isaurian Dynasty| ▸ |Leo III||View Options:  |  |  |   

Leo III the Isaurian, 25 March 717 - 18 June 741 A.D.

Joint rule with Constantine V (his son), 31 March 720 - 18 June 741 A.D.
Leo III was born of peasant origin in Isauria (southern Anatolia). Anastasius II made him a general. Under Theodosius III, the Arabs were threatening Constantinople. Leo made a truce with the Arabs which allowed him to return to the capital with an army. He defeated the few forces still loyal to Theodosius and was acclaimed emperor. Meanwhile, the Arabs, ruling a large part of Asia Minor and Thrace, were certain of their final victory. Constantinople was under siege by sea and by land, but their fleet of 1,800 vessels was totally destroyed (only 5 ships survived) and they were also defeated in Thrace. Within a few months, the Byzantine Empire recovered most of their lost territory and was again the premier power in the Mediterranean. Leo so successfully defeated the Arabs that they ceased to be a serious threat for centuries. Leo reorganize the empire, carrying out important reforms, introduced a new silver denomination, the miliaresion, and promulgating a code of laws (Ecloga). Unfortunately his iconoclast policies (opposition to devotion to religious images) resulted in the destruction of thousands of masterpieces of Roman art (fortunately the Pope refused his order to destroy the artworks of Rome), split the Roman and Byzantine churches, and resulted in violent struggles between iconoclasts and their opposition which would not end until 842 A.D.
717 AD

Byzantine Empire, Leo III and Constantine V, 31 March 720 - 18 June 741 A.D., Senate of the City of Rome

|Constantine| |V|, |Byzantine| |Empire,| |Leo| |III| |and| |Constantine| |V,| |31| |March| |720| |-| |18| |June| |741| |A.D.,| |Senate| |of| |the| |City| |of| |Rome||30| |nummi|
The most current references identify these squared types as struck by the Senate of the City of Rome during the final stage of Byzantine rule, from the reign of Justinian II to Constantine V, c. 690 - 720. Portraits vary and are attributed to specific emperors during this period. Grierson specifically identifies this portrait as the young Constantine V, at the beginning of his joint rule with his father Leo III, c. 720 A.D. Grierson has commented, in view of the specimens found in the Byzantine-Papal hoard, that the low weight combined with a relatively high value suggests that the they may have been intended as a billon rather than a copper coinage. Murari confirmed this, noting traces of silver exist on many of the three-quarter folles he handled. Still this theory is very uncertain.
BZ98048. Billon 30 nummi, Murari 25a; DOC III p. 278 & pl. VI, 93 (not in the collection refs CNI); CNI XV, p. 60, 13; MIB III 31; SBCV 1534D; Wroth BMC -; Tolstoi -; Ratto -, gVF, a little rough, struck on a square flan and globus cruciger not visible as typical for this type, weight 0.469 g, maximum diameter 9.8 mm, die axis 0o, Rome mint, c. 720 A.D.; obverse facing beardless bust of very young Constantine V, wearing chlamys and crown decorated with a rows of pellets and cross; reverse XXX, ROm in exergue; very rare; SOLD


Byzantine Empire, Leo III the Isaurian and Constantine V, 31 March 720 - 18 June 741 A.D.

|Leo| |III|, |Byzantine| |Empire,| |Leo| |III| |the| |Isaurian| |and| |Constantine| |V,| |31| |March| |720| |-| |18| |June| |741| |A.D.||follis|
"Specimens of this type vary considerabley in size and weight." -- Byzantine Coins and Their Values, by David R. Sear.
BZ111216. Bronze follis, DOC III-1 54a (larger var.), Anastasi 399a, Trivero 092, Sommer 21.18, Spahr 318, Calciati MBBS 74, SBCV 1530, VF, earthen deposits, weight 3.938 g, maximum diameter 20.2 mm, die axis 180o, Sicily, Syracuse mint, 721 - 730 A.D.; obverse legend normally illegible (Sear), crowned bust of Leo III facing, short beard, wearing crown and chlamys, akakia in right hand, globus cruciger in left hand; reverse bust of Constantine V facing, beardless, wearing crown and chlamys, akakia in right hand, globus cruciger in left hand, below line under bust, large M (40 nummi) dividing SC-L; ex CNG auction 528 (30 Nov 2022), lot 482; ex CNG auction 25 (24 Mar 1993), lot 967; scarce; SOLD


Byzantine Empire, Leo III the Isaurian and Constantine V, 31 March 720 - 18 June 741 A.D.

|Leo| |III|, |Byzantine| |Empire,| |Leo| |III| |the| |Isaurian| |and| |Constantine| |V,| |31| |March| |720| |-| |18| |June| |741| |A.D.||follis|
"Specimens of this type vary considerably in size and weight." -- Byzantine Coins and Their Values, by David R. Sear.
BZ65614. Bronze follis, DOC III-1 54b (smaller var.), Trivero 092, Anastasi 399, Sommer 21.18, Spahr 318, Calciati MBBS 74, SBCV 1530, aVF, weight 1.941 g, maximum diameter 19.5 mm, die axis 180o, Sicily, Syracuse mint, 722 - 730 A.D.; obverse legend normally illegible (Sear), crowned bust of Leo III facing, short beard, wearing crown and chlamys, akakia in right hand, globus cruciger in left hand; reverse bust of Constantine V facing, beardless, wearing crown and chlamys, akakia in right hand, globus cruciger in left hand, below line under bust, large M (40 nummi) dividing SC-L; scarce; SOLD


Byzantine Empire, Leo III the Isaurian and Constantine V, 31 March 720 - 18 June 741 A.D.

|Leo| |III|, |Byzantine| |Empire,| |Leo| |III| |the| |Isaurian| |and| |Constantine| |V,| |31| |March| |720| |-| |18| |June| |741| |A.D.||follis|
This type varies considerably in size and weight, ranging from c. 27mm and 6 grams down to 15 mm and 1 gram. -- Byzantine Coins and Their Values by David R. Sear
BZ72019. Bronze follis, Wroth BMC p. 410, 9 corr. (Leo V, same leg breaks); DOC III-1 39a.1; Sommer 21.11; SBCV 1516; Morrisson BnF - (p. 460); Ratto -, VF, well centered, nice green patina, weight 6.039 g, maximum diameter 24.3 mm, die axis 180o, 1st officina, Constantinople (Istanbul, Turkey) mint, c. 735 - 741 A.D.; obverse LEOh-S C-O-hST', crowned busts of Leo III bearded on left and Constantine V beardless facing, each wears chlamys and holds akakia in right; reverse large M (40 nummi), cross above, X/X/X left, N/N/N right, A below; scarce; SOLD


Byzantine Empire, Leo III the Isaurian and Constantine V, 31 March 720 - 18 June 741 A.D.

|Constantine| |V|, |Byzantine| |Empire,| |Leo| |III| |the| |Isaurian| |and| |Constantine| |V,| |31| |March| |720| |-| |18| |June| |741| |A.D.||follis|
It is difficult to distinguish this type from the analogous one of Constantine V. In the auction lists, the attribution of this particular coin to one or the other emperor is often arbitrary. The most visible difference between the two follis lies in the portrait with beard and mustache, which is present on only one face: if it corresponds to the one with the legend KWNS / ΔEC, then it is a follis of Constantine V; if instead it corresponds to the one with the legend ΛEON / ΔECΠ, it corresponds to Leo III. Obviously this recognition is possible only if the conservation of the coin is good enough to allow to distinguish whether or not there is a beard and mustache, which does not happen often.
BZ11679. Bronze follis, Anastasi 405, Trivero 095, Spahr 319, Calciati MBBS 75, SBCV 1531, gVF, weight 2.377 g, maximum diameter 16.4 mm, die axis 180o, Sicily, Syracuse mint, 734 - 735 A.D.; obverse Λ/E/O/N - Δ/E/C/Π, Leo III, bearded, standing facing, wears crown and chlamys, akakia in right hand; reverse K/W/N/S - Δ/E/C/Π, Constantine V, beardless, standing facing, wears crown and chlamys, akakia in right hand; very scarce; SOLD


Byzantine Empire, Leo III the Isaurian and Constantine V, 31 March 720 - 18 June 741 A.D.

|Leo| |III|, |Byzantine| |Empire,| |Leo| |III| |the| |Isaurian| |and| |Constantine| |V,| |31| |March| |720| |-| |18| |June| |741| |A.D.||follis|
This type varies considerably in size and weight, ranging from c. 27mm and 6 grams down to 15 mm and 1 gram. -- Byzantine Coins and Their Values by David R. Sear
BZ110066. Bronze follis, Wroth BMC 11 (Leo V); DOC III-1 39; SBCV 1516; Sommer 21.11; Morrisson BnF - (p. 460); Tolstoi 15 (Leo V); Ratto -, aVF, centered, some light corrosion, weight 3.300 g, maximum diameter 22.1 mm, die axis 180o, 1st officina, Constantinople (Istanbul, Turkey) mint, c. 735 - 741 A.D.; obverse LEOn-S C-ONS, busts of Leo III bearded on left and Constantine V on right, beardless facing, each wears crown with cross and chlamys, each holds akakia in right; reverse large M (40 nummi), cross above, X/X/X left, N/N/N right, A below; scarce; SOLD


Byzantine Empire, Constantine V and Leo IV, 6 June 751 - 14 September 775 A.D.

|Constantine| |V|, |Byzantine| |Empire,| |Constantine| |V| |and| |Leo| |IV,| |6| |June| |751| |-| |14| |September| |775| |A.D.||follis|
In 751, Pepin the Short was elected King of the Franks by the Frankish nobility, marking the end of the Merovingian and beginning of the Carolingian dynasty. In 752, Abd al-Rahman ibn Habib al-Fihri made the first Muslim assault on Sardinia, the beginning of Saracen occupation that lasts until 1005. He also attempted to invade Sicily.
BZ99100. Bronze follis, Anastasi 434, DOC III-1 19l, Wroth BMC 35, Tolstoi 53, Ratto 1757, SBCV 1569, Sommer 23.11, VF/F, well struck, dark patina, trace deposits, weight 1.676 g, maximum diameter 18.5 mm, die axis 180o, Sicily, Syracuse mint, 757 - 14 Sep 775 A.D.; obverse K - ΛE/O/N, Constantine V and Leo IV, each stand facing wearing crown and chlamys and holding akakia, cross between heads; reverse Λ/E/O/N - Δ/E/C/Π, Leo III standing facing, bearded, wearing crown and chlamys, cross potent in right hand; from the Robert Wachter Collection; SOLD


Byzantine Empire, Leo III the Isaurian and Constantine V, 31 March 720 - 18 June 741 A.D.

|Leo| |III|, |Byzantine| |Empire,| |Leo| |III| |the| |Isaurian| |and| |Constantine| |V,| |31| |March| |720| |-| |18| |June| |741| |A.D.||follis|
This type varies considerably in size and weight, ranging from c. 27mm and 6 grams down to 15 mm and 1 gram. -- Byzantine Coins and Their Values by David R. Sear
BZ111691. Bronze follis, DOC III-1 39a, Wroth BMC 11 (Leo V), Tolstoi 15 (Leo V), Sommer 21.11, SBCV 1516, Morrisson BnF - (p. 460), Ratto -, F, rough, ragged flan, weight 4.819 g, maximum diameter 23.2 mm, die axis 180o, 1st officina, Constantinople (Istanbul, Turkey) mint, c. 735 - 741 A.D.; obverse LEOn-S C-ONSt, busts of Leo III bearded on left and Constantine V beardless facing, each wears crown with cross and chlamys, each holds akakia in right; reverse large M (40 nummi), cross above, X/X/X left, N/N/N right, A below; scarce; SOLD


Byzantine Empire, Constantine V and Leo IV, 6 June 751 - 14 September 775 A.D.

|Leo| |IV|, |Byzantine| |Empire,| |Constantine| |V| |and| |Leo| |IV,| |6| |June| |751| |-| |14| |September| |775| |A.D.||follis|
In 773, the mathematical concept of the number zero was introduced in Baghdad.
MA114451. Bronze follis, Anastasi 434, DOC III-1 19l, Wroth BMC 35, Tolstoi 53, Ratto 1757, SBCV 1569, Sommer 23.11, VF, green patina, ragged flan, sprue remnants/cuts, weight 2.690 g, maximum diameter 17.9 mm, die axis 180o, Sicily, Syracuse mint, 757 - 14 Sep 775 A.D.; obverse K - ΛE/O/N, Constantine V and Leo IV, each stand facing wearing crown and chlamys and holding akakia, cross between heads; reverse Λ/E/O/N - Δ/E/C/Π, Leo III standing facing, bearded, wearing crown and chlamys, cross potent in right hand; SOLD


Byzantine Empire, Leo III the Isaurian and Constantine V, 31 March 720 - 18 June 741 A.D.

|Leo| |III|, |Byzantine| |Empire,| |Leo| |III| |the| |Isaurian| |and| |Constantine| |V,| |31| |March| |720| |-| |18| |June| |741| |A.D.||follis|
On this variant the head appears larger on both faces. This variant is rare, but not very rare. In fact, it is sometimes offered at auction, without the difference from the normal type identified.
BZ27201. Bronze follis, Trivero 095b, Anastasi 404Abis, Spahr 321, Calciati MBBS 75 var. (normal type), SBCV 1531 var. (same), aVF, crude large head variety, double struck, weight 1.691 g, maximum diameter 20.8 mm, die axis 180o, Sicily, Syracuse mint, 731 - 733 A.D.; obverse Λ/E/O/N - Δ/E/C/Π, Leo III standing facing, bearded, wears crown and chlamys, akakia in right hand; reverse K/W/N/S - Δ/E/C/Π, Constantine V standing facing, beardless, wears crown and chlamys, akakia in right; very scarce; SOLD




  




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REFERENCES

Anastasi, M. Monete Bizantine di Sicilia. (NP, 2009).
Berk, H. Eastern Roman Successors of the Sestertius. (Chicago, 1987).
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Füeg, F. Corpus of the Nomismata from Anastasius II to John I in Constantinople, 713 - 976. (Lancaster, PA, 2007).
Grierson, P. Byzantine Coins. (London, 1982).
Grierson, P. Catalogue of the Byzantine Coins in the Dumbarton Oaks Collection and in the Whittemore Collection, Vol III, Part 1: Leo III to Michael III, 717-867. (Washington D.C., 1973).
Morrisson, C. Catalogue des Monnaies Byzantines de la Bibliothèque Nationale II, 711 - 1204. (Paris, 1970).
Ranieri, E. La monetazione di Ravenna antica dal V all' VIII secolo: impero romano e bizantino, regno ostrogoto e langobardo. (Bologna, 2006).
Ratto, R. Monnaies Byzantines et d'autre Pays contemporaines à l'époque byzantine. (Lugano, 1930).
Sabatier, J. Description générale des monnaies Byzantines. (Paris, 1863).
Sear, D. Byzantine Coins and Their Values. (London, 1987).
Sommer, A. Die Münzen des Byzantinischen Reiches 491-1453. Mit einem Anhang: Die Münzen des Kaiserreichs von Trapezunt. (Regenstauf, 2010).
Spahr, R. Le monete siciliane, dai Bizantini a Carlo I d' Angio (582 - 1282). (Graz, 1976).
Tolstoi, I. Monnaies byzantines. (St. Petersburg, 1913 - 14).
Trivero, A. "I Follis Siracusani di Leone III" in monete antiche, issue 42, November/December 2008, pp. 31- 34.
Trivero, A. La monetazione di rame dela Sicilia bizantina (testo e archivio fotografico allegato). (Achao, 2006).
Wroth, W. Catalogue of the Imperial Byzantine Coins in the British Museum. (London, 1908).

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