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Home ▸ Catalog ▸ |Themes & Provenance| ▸ |Types| ▸ |Facing Heads||View Options:  |  |  |   

Facing Heads on Ancient Coins
Byzantine Empire, Duchy of Chaldia, Theodore Gabras, c. 1075 - 1098 A.D., In the Name of Alexius I Comnenus

|Trebizond|, |Byzantine| |Empire,| |Duchy| |of| |Chaldia,| |Theodore| |Gabras,| |c.| |1075| |-| |1098| |A.D.,| |In| |the| |Name| |of| |Alexius| |I| |Comnenus||follis|NEW
Theodore Gabras' crowning glory was the recapture of Trebizond from the Seljuk Turks c. 1075, which he ruled for years as if it were his own personal fiefdom. By the late 1080s, Theodore was residing at Constantinople. To keep him in check, Alexios I made Theodore Dux of Chaldia and ordered him to take up his post, leaving his eldest son Gregory at the court. By 1091, Theodore returned to the capital, demanding the return of his son. Alexios refused, claiming he was contemplating marrying the boy to one of his own daughters. Doubting the emperor, Theodore sailed with his son to Trebizond in secret. Alexios sent a squadron of ships which overtook Theodore and advised him that if he refused to hand over his son, he would be arrested as a rebel. Theodore allowed Alexios’ emissaries to take Gregory back with them, while he continued back to Trebizond. Gregory attempted to escape but was discovered and imprisoned. A man of Theodore's military talents was too good to waste, and by 1097 he was once again at the front line fighting the Turks in alliance with the Crusaders. While the Franks were engaged at the Siege of Antioch, Theodore was marching with Alexios, helping him recapture towns in western Asia Minor. In 1098 he was captured by the Danishmends and martyred. He was later venerated as a saint. His younger son Constantine Gabras succeeded him as Dux of Chaldia. Following the dissolution of the Byzantine Empire by the Fourth Crusade in 1204, the region became the center of the new Empire of Trebizond which survived until falling to the Ottomans in 1461. The feast day of Saint Theodoros Gabras is 2 October.
BZ113693. Bronze follis, Bendall Trebizond NC 137 (1977), p. 131 & pl. 6, 3; Corinth VI p. 151 & pl. X, 175; DOC IV -; Hendy -; SBCV -, F, green patina, light earthen deposits, off center, wavy clipped polygonal flan with 9(?) sides (as minted), weight 4.050 g, maximum diameter 26.6 mm, die axis 0o, Trebizond (Trabzon, Turkey) mint, c. 1092 - 1098 A.D.; obverse + AΛEΞI - ΔECP (or similar, struck in the name of Emperor Alexius I Comnenus), facing bust, wearing crown with cross and pendilia, stemma, collar piece, divitision and chlamys, cruciform scepter in right hand, globus cruciger in left; reverse Cross fourchée-pommée on three steps, IC - XC / NH-KA (Jesus Christ conquers) in angles of cross; only one sale of this type listed on Coin Archives in the last two decades, the finest of only six specimens known to FORVM; extremely rare; $900.00 (€846.00)
 


Byzantine Empire, Duchy of Chaldia, Gregorios Taronites, c. 1103 - 1106 A.D., In the Name of Alexius I Comnenus

|Trebizond|, |Byzantine| |Empire,| |Duchy| |of| |Chaldia,| |Gregorios| |Taronites,| |c.| |1103| |-| |1106| |A.D.,| |In| |the| |Name| |of| |Alexius| |I| |Comnenus||follis|NEW
Gregorios Taronites was made Dux of Trebizond by Alexius I after military successes against the Seljuks. He almost immediately rebelled. While the emperor sought a diplomatic solution, Taronites went so far as to publicly insult the imperial family. Captured, Alexius intended to have him blinded but he was granted clemency and instead paraded through the streets of Constantinople and then thrown into the Prison of Anemas. At first, Gregory remained obstinate and continued to hurl abuse on the emperor from his cell, but was persuaded to recant and beseech the emperor's pardon. In the end, he was not only released and pardoned, but accorded even higher honors.
BZ113701. Bronze follis, Bendall Trebizond p. 133, issue 13B & pl. 7, 19; DOC IV-1 p. 433, 13b; Schlumberger pl. ii, 5; Hendy -; Wroth BMC -; Ratto -, F, off center on a broad flan, dark brown and green patina, overstruck, weight 7.493 g, maximum diameter 32.1 mm, die axis 0o, Trebizond (Trabzon, Turkey) mint, reign of Alexius I Comnenus, c. 1103 - 1106 A.D.; obverse facing bust of Christ, bearded and nimbate, wearing tunic and himation, Gospels in right hand, IC - XC (Greek abbreviation: Ihsoús Xristós - Jesus Christ) across field; reverse Latin cross on three steps, a globule at the end of each arm, A-Λ / B - P (Greek abbreviation: Αλεξιο Βασιλευς Ρωμαιων - Alexius king of the Romans) in angles; rare; $350.00 (€329.00)
 


Byzantine Empire, Duchy of Chaldia, Gregorios Taronites, c. 1103 - 1106 A.D., In the Name of Alexius I Comnenus

|Trebizond|, |Byzantine| |Empire,| |Duchy| |of| |Chaldia,| |Gregorios| |Taronites,| |c.| |1103| |-| |1106| |A.D.,| |In| |the| |Name| |of| |Alexius| |I| |Comnenus||follis|NEW
Gregorios Taronites was made Dux of Trebizond by Alexius I after military successes against the Seljuks. He almost immediately rebelled. While the emperor sought a diplomatic solution, Taronites went so far as to publicly insult the imperial family. Captured, Alexius intended to have him blinded but he was granted clemency and instead paraded through the streets of Constantinople and then thrown into the Prison of Anemas. At first, Gregory remained obstinate and continued to hurl abuse on the emperor from his cell, but was persuaded to recant and beseech the emperor's pardon. In the end, he was not only released and pardoned, but accorded even higher honors.
BZ113702. Bronze follis, Bendall Trebizond p. 133, issue 13B & pl. 7, 19; DOC IV-1 p. 433, 13b; Schlumberger pl. ii, 5; Hendy -; Wroth BMC -; Ratto -, VF, uneven strike with weak areas, earthen encrusted, small clipped polygonal flan with 8 sides, weight 1.567 g, maximum diameter 19.4 mm, die axis 90o, Trebizond (Trabzon, Turkey) mint, reign of Alexius I Comnenus, c. 1103 - 1106 A.D.; obverse facing bust of Christ, bearded and nimbate, wearing tunic and himation, Gospels in right hand, IC - XC (Greek abbreviation: Ihsoús Xristós - Jesus Christ) across field; reverse Latin cross on three steps, a globule at the end of each arm, A-Λ / B - P (Greek abbreviation: Αλεξιο Βασιλευς Ρωμαιων - Alexius king of the Romans) in angles; rare; $200.00 (€188.00)
 


Bulgars in Byzantine Bulgaria(?), Anonymous Follis of Christ, Imitative of Class A3, c. 1023 - 1040 A.D.

|Bulgaria|, |Bulgars| |in| |Byzantine| |Bulgaria(?),| |Anonymous| |Follis| |of| |Christ,| |Imitative| |of| |Class| |A3,| |c.| |1023| |-| |1040| |A.D.||anonymous| |follis|
This imitative was most likely struck by an unofficial mint in unruly Byzantine Bulgaria. In 1018, the Byzantine emperor Basil II conquered the First Bulgarian Empire. The Bulgarian aristocracy were given Byzantine titles and moved to Asia. The existing tax system, laws, and the role of low-ranking nobility remained, at first, unchanged. As the Byzantine Empire declined under Basil's successors, Pecheneg invasions and rising taxes led to discontent and major uprisings. Bulgaria remained under Byzantine rule until the brothers Asen and Peter liberated the country in 1185, establishing the Second Bulgarian Empire.
CR111244. Bronze anonymous follis, See Lampinen Imitative, p. 54, for a similar Class A imitative; prototype: Basil II & Constantine VIII, 1023-1028, SBCV 1818, aVF, green patina, light earthen deposits, off center, weight 7.969 g, maximum diameter 26.3 mm, die axis 0o, unofficial (Bulgarian?) mint, c. 1023 - 1040 A.D.; obverse facing nimbate bust of Christ, pallium and colobium, Gospels in both hands, no legend or inscription; reverse retrograde Greek inscription: + IhSuS / XRISTuS / bASILEu / bASILE (Greek: Jesus Christ King of Kings); ex Morton & Eden auction 119 (6 Dec 2022), lot 333 (part of); $180.00 (€169.20)
 


Byzantine Empire, Heraclius, 5 October 610 - 11 January 641 A.D.

|Heraclius|, |Byzantine| |Empire,| |Heraclius,| |5| |October| |610| |-| |11| |January| |641| |A.D.||half| |follis|NEW
Dumbarton Oaks does not list this type with IE right on the reverse. DOC II-1, pp. 349-350, no. 234 is similar but with only E right on the reverse. Philip Grierson notes it is not possible to date this class precisely. The E on the reverse is probably not a date but a meaningless immobilization of dating used in earlier reigns. It seems this type dated IE is actually earlier than the types dated E, which sometimes have a bearded portrait.
BZ113803. Bronze half follis, Morrisson BnF 10/Ct/AE/01; SBCV 873; Hahn MIB 3 234; Sommer 11.107; DOC II-1 -; Wroth BMC -; Tolstoi -; Ratto -, VF, well centered, rough green patina, edge cracks, sprue remnants, weight 6.956 g, maximum diameter 21.4 mm, die axis 90o, Carthage (near Tunis, Tunisia) mint, 611 - 612 A.D.(?); obverse D N ERA-CLIO PP AV, facing, beardless and crowned bust of Heraclius, globus cruciger in right hand; reverse large XX (20 nummi), cross above, star left, pellet in center, IE (regnal year 15?) right, KRTS in exergue; first specimen of the type handled by FORVM; rare; $180.00 (€169.20)
 


Byzantine Empire, Duchy of Chaldia, Theodore Gabras, c. 1075 - 1098 A.D., Reign of Alexius I Comnenus

|Trebizond|, |Byzantine| |Empire,| |Duchy| |of| |Chaldia,| |Theodore| |Gabras,| |c.| |1075| |-| |1098| |A.D.,| |Reign| |of| |Alexius| |I| |Comnenus||follis|NEW
Theodore Gabras' crowning glory was the recapture of Trebizond from the Seljuk Turks c. 1075, which he ruled for years as if it were his own personal fiefdom. By the late 1080s, Theodore was residing at Constantinople. To keep him in check, Alexios I made Theodore Dux of Chaldia and ordered him to take up his post, leaving his eldest son Gregory at the court. By 1091, Theodore returned to the capital, demanding the return of his son. Alexios refused, claiming he was contemplating marrying the boy to one of his own daughters. Doubting the emperor, Theodore sailed with his son to Trebizond in secret. Alexios sent a squadron of ships which overtook Theodore and advised him that if he refused to hand over his son, he would be arrested as a rebel. Theodore allowed Alexios’ emissaries to take Gregory back with them, while he continued back to Trebizond. Gregory attempted to escape but was discovered and imprisoned. A man of Theodore's military talents was too good to waste, and by 1097 he was once again at the front line fighting the Turks in alliance with the Crusaders. While the Franks were engaged at the Siege of Antioch, Theodore was marching with Alexios, helping him recapture towns in western Asia Minor. In 1098 he was captured by the Danishmends and martyred. He was later venerated as a saint. His younger son Constantine Gabras succeeded him as Dux of Chaldia. Following the dissolution of the Byzantine Empire by the Fourth Crusade in 1204, the region became the center of the new Empire of Trebizond which survived until falling to the Ottomans in 1461. The feast day of Saint Theodoros Gabras is 2 October.
BZ113697. Bronze follis, Bendall Trebizond (NC 77) p. 132, 10 & pl. 6, 10; DOC IV-1 p. 431 & pl. XXV, 10; SBCV -, Hendy -, Wroth -, Ratto -, aF, rough, clipped polygonal flan with 8 sides, weight 2.521 g, maximum diameter 22.3 mm, die axis 90o, Trebizond (Trabzon, Turkey) mint, reign of Alexius I Comnenus, c. 1075 - 1090 A.D.; obverse facing bust of St. Theodore, nimbate, wearing tunic, breast plate and sagion, sword in right hand over right shoulder, shield in left hand, / Θ-E/O/Δ (Saint Theodore) in downward columns left and right; reverse Latin cross, pellet at each end; very rare; $170.00 (€159.80)
 


Byzantine Empire, Michael III the Drunkard, 20 January 842 - 23 September 867 A.D.

|Michael| |III|, |Byzantine| |Empire,| |Michael| |III| |the| |Drunkard,| |20| |January| |842| |-| |23| |September| |867| |A.D.||follis|NEW
Michael III took an active part in the wars against the Abbasids and their vassals on the eastern frontier in 856 - 863, especially in 857 when he sent an army of 50,000 men against Umar al-Aqta, Emir of Melitene. In 859 he personally besieged Samosata, but in 860 he had to abandon his expedition to repel a Rus' attack on Constantinople. Michael was defeated by the Caliph al-Mutawakkil at Dazimon in 860, but in 863 Petronas defeated and killed the emir of Melitene at the battle of Lalakaon and celebrated a triumph in the capital.
BZ114450. Bronze follis, Anastasi 567; DOC III-1 p. 468, 12; SBCV 1697; Sommer 32.6; Wroth BMC 16; Tolstoi 17; Ratto 1847, F, earthen deposits, edge splits, sprue remnant/cut, weight 3.572 g, maximum diameter 18.6 mm, die axis 180o, Syracuse mint, sole reign, 856 - 866; obverse mIXAHL b, facing bust of Michael III, with short beard, wearing crown and loros, cross potent in right; reverse large M (40 nummi), cross above, Θ below; very scarce; $170.00 (€159.80)
 


Byzantine Empire, Nicephorus II Phocas, 16 August 963 - 10 December 969 A.D.

|Nicephorus| |II|, |Byzantine| |Empire,| |Nicephorus| |II| |Phocas,| |16| |August| |963| |-| |10| |December| |969| |A.D.||miliaresion|NEW
Nicephorus II was an able military commander who followed Romanus II on the Byzantine throne and also married his widow, Theophano. He began a vigorous and successful campaign in the east, regaining Cyprus and Antioch. However, the high expenses of war made him unpopular. His wife had an affair with another general, John Tzimisches. In the end, Tzimisches had Nicepohorus killed, seizing the throne for himself.
BZ112942. Silver miliaresion, DOC III-2 6; Morrisson BnF 39/Cp/AR/01; Wroth BMC 6; Ratto 1913; SBCV 1781; Sommer 38.5, EF, well centered, edge chips, weight 2.842 g, maximum diameter 22.1 mm, die axis 180o, Constantinople (Istanbul, Turkey) mint, 963 - 969 A.D.; obverse + IhSUS XRISTUS nICA * (Jesus Christ Conquers), cross crosslet on globus above two steps; center medallion contains: crowned bust of Nicephorus II facing, wearing loros, n/C - I/F in two divided lines; triple border with eight globules; reverse + nICHF'/ En Xw AVTO/CRAT EVSEb / bASILEVS / RWMAIW in five lines across field, decorative ornaments above and below, border as on obverse; scarce; $150.00 (€141.00) ON RESERVE


Byzantine Anonymous Follis of Christ, Class A3, Basil II & Constantine VIII, c. 1023 - 11 November 1028 A.D.

|Basil| |II|, |Byzantine| |Anonymous| |Follis| |of| |Christ,| |Class| |A3,| |Basil| |II| |&| |Constantine| |VIII,| |c.| |1023| |-| |11| |November| |1028| |A.D.||anonymous| |follis|NEW
The emperor's name and portrait are not part of the design on the Byzantine types referred to as anonymous folles. Instead of the earthly king, these coins depict Jesus Christ, King of Kings.
BZ114452. Bronze anonymous follis, Anonymous follis of Christ, DOC III-2, class A3; SBCV 1818; Grierson-NumisWiki ornaments 14b, VF, well centered, dark brown patina, weight 7.896 g, maximum diameter 28.1 mm, die axis 180o, Constantinople (Istanbul, Turkey) mint, c. 1023 - 11 Nov 1028 A.D.; obverse + EMMANOVHΛ (romanized Hebrew - God is with us), facing nimbate bust of Christ, two pellets in each arm of the cross, pallium, and colobium, Gospels ornamented with center pellet and pellet border held in both hands, IC - XC (Greek abbreviation: Ihsoús Xristós - Jesus Christ) across field; reverse + IhSuS / XRISTuS / bASILEu / bASILE (Greek: Jesus Christ King of Kings), ornaments above and below inscription; $160.00 SALE PRICE $144.00 ON RESERVE


Byzantine Anonymous Follis of Christ, Class A3, Basil II & Constantine VIII, c. 1023 - 11 November 1028 A.D.

|Basil| |II|, |Byzantine| |Anonymous| |Follis| |of| |Christ,| |Class| |A3,| |Basil| |II| |&| |Constantine| |VIII,| |c.| |1023| |-| |11| |November| |1028| |A.D.||anonymous| |follis|
This ornament variation with crosses ornamentation is very popular. It is possibly a provincial mint issue.
BZ113974. Bronze anonymous follis, Anonymous follis of Christ, DOC III-2, class A3; SBCV 1818; Grierson-NumisWiki ornaments 32, F, dark green patina, weight 9.468 g, maximum diameter 27.8 mm, die axis 180o, c. 1023 - 11 Nov 1028 A.D.; obverse + EMMANOVHΛ (romanized Hebrew - God is with us), facing nimbate bust of Christ, pallium and colobium, Gospels in both hands, IC - XC (Greek abbreviation: Ihsoús Xristós - Jesus Christ) across field; nimbus and Gospels ornamented with crosses; reverse + IhSuS / XRISTuS / bASILEu / bASILE (Greek: Jesus Christ King of Kings), cross above and below inscription; $130.00 (€122.20)
 




  



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