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Bendall notes the X's on the obverse may refer to Christ, and the E's on the reverse to St. Eugenius, the patron saint of Trebizond.
The general Theodore Gabras captured Trebizond and ruled it and the theme of Chaldia as a virtually autonomous state (c. 1075 - 1098). He was celebrated for his martial exploits, and was later venerated as a saint in the region. 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.BZ113695. Bronze follis, Bendall Trebizond p. 132 & pl. 6, 9; DOC IV-1 p. 431, 9; Corinth VI p. 151 & pl. X, 172; Sabatier II p. 339, 10 & pl. LXX, 16, F, uneven strike with weak areas, die wear, earthen encrustations, marks, large heavy clipped polygonal flan with 8 sides (Bendall notes weights vary between 2.0 and 3.5g), weight 4.885 g, maximum diameter 23.3 mm, die axis 0o, Trebizond (Trabzon, Turkey) mint, reign of Alexius I Comnenus, c. 1075 - 1098 A.D.; obverse patriarchal cross set on step, X in each angle; reverse patriarchal cross set on step, E in each angle; only one sale of this type listed on Coin Archives in the last two decades (realized $4,500 plus fees in 2020); very rare; $500.00 (€470.00)
Byzantine Empire, Duchy of Chaldia, Theodore Gabras, c. 1075 - 1098 A.D., Reign of Alexius I Comnenus
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.BZ113698. Bronze follis, Bendall Trebizond (NC 77) p. 133, 11 & pl. 6, 13; DOC IV-1 p. 432 & pl. XXV, 11; Sabatier pl. lxvi, 5; SBCV -, Hendy -, Wroth -, Ratto -, F, rough, dark near black patina, clipped ovate polygonal flan, double struck, overstruck (on Bendall Trebizond p. 132, 10), weight 1.943 g, maximum diameter 23.3 mm, die axis 180o, Trebizond (Trabzon, Turkey) mint, reign of Alexius I Comnenus, c. 1080 - 1098 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, remnants of undertype inscription on right; reverse full length figure of St. Theodore standing facing, nimbate, wearing tunic, breastplate, and sagion, spear vertical in right hand, shield in left hand, inscription flanking in columns O / A/GI/C - Θ/E/O/Δ (or similar, Greek: Saint Theodore); only one sale of this type listed on Coin Archives in the last two decades; very rare; $400.00 (€376.00)
Byzantine Empire, Justin II, 15 November 565 - 5 October 578 A.D.
Justin was unable to hold the territory Justinian had restored. Most of Italy and parts of Spain were quickly lost to the Lombards and Visigoths. Refusal to pay tribute to the Sassanids, resulted in protracted war. The burdens of office drove him insane and his successor was regent for the last four years of his reign.
This remarkable Thessalonican half-follis rarity, unrecorded in Hahn MIB II, did not pass without comment by the authors of the later revamped English edition (MIBEC): "On the half-folles [of Thessalonica] the old obv.-type with frontal bust was continued in the first years of Justin's reign as in Antioch. Occasionally it was copied from the solidi which have a Victoriola on globe in the hand of the emperor (no.68c). The change to the new obverses with the enthroned couple, restricted to the half-follis (no.70), took place in year 4. Apparently the large number of obv.-dies showing the frontal bust of the emperor (no.69) made it prudent to use them up simultaneously with the new type, so that the old obverse did not disappear finally until year 6."BZ95682. Bronze half-follis, Hahn MIBEC 68c (2 spec.; 1 for year 1), Hahn MIB II -, DOC I -, Morrisson BnF -, Sommer -, Wroth BMC -, Ratto -, SBCV -, EBCC -, aVF/gVF, mostly bare metal but pleasingly toned, slightly irregular flan, uneven strike, Victory on globe clear, weight 5.217 g, maximum diameter 21.4 mm, die axis 180o, Thessalonica (Salonika, Greece) mint, 565 - 566 A.D.; obverse D N IVSTI-NVS P P AV[G?], cuirassed bust facing in plumed helmet with diadem, holding Victoriola (statuette of Victory) on globe in right hand and shield supported by left; reverse large K (20 nummi) between ANNO (year) on left and •I on right, cross above, TES below; extremely rare; $350.00 (€329.00)
Byzantine Empire, Duchy of Chaldia, Gregorios Taronites, c. 1103 - 1106 A.D., In the Name of Alexius I Comnenus
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, 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, globule at 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, The Gabrades Dynasty, 12th Century A.D.
The general Theodore Gabras captured Trebizond and ruled it and the theme of Chaldia as a virtually autonomous state (c. 1075 - 1098). He was celebrated for his martial exploits, and was later venerated as a saint. After his death the province of Chaldia effectively became an autonomous semi-hereditary domain of the Gabrades family. 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.BZ113692. Bronze follis, Sommer T1.2; Bendall Trebizond -; imitative of anonymous follis of Christ, DOC III-2, class I, SBCV 1889, F, dark patina, heavy earthen deposits, off center, clipped polygonal flan (typical of Trebizond), edge crack, weight 2.454 g, maximum diameter 24.6 mm, die axis 45o, Trebizond (Trabzon, Turkey) mint, semi-Autonomous coinage, 12th Century A.D.; obverse facing bust of Christ Pantocrator, nimbate, Gospels in left hand, IC - XC (Greek abbreviation: Ihsoús Xristós - Jesus Christ) across field; reverse Latin cross with X at center, two pellets at each extremity, floral ornaments in lower fields, crescents in upper fields; only two sales of this type listed on Coin Archives in the last two decades; extremely rare; $250.00 (€235.00)
Byzantine Empire, Duchy of Trebizond, Theodore Gabras, c. 1075 - 1126 A.D.
The general Theodore Gabras captured Trebizond and ruled it and the theme of Chaldia as a virtually autonomous state (c. 1081 - 1098). He was celebrated for his martial exploits, and was later venerated as a saint in the region. 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.BZ113699. Bronze follis, Bendall Trebizond, issue 12, pl. 7, 15 - 16; DOC IV Trebizond p. 432, 12; undertype: Bendall Trebizond, issue 11, pl. 6, 13, aVF, strong undertype effects resulting in an obscure reverse type, encrustations, porosity, clipped polygonal flan with 8 sides (as minted), weight 3.411 g, maximum diameter 23.5 mm, die axis 180o, Trebizond (Trabzon, Turkey) mint, reign of Alexius I Comnenus, c. 1100 A.D.; obverse facing bust of Christ, bearded and nimbate, larger pellet with four smaller pellets around in each limb of cross, wearing tunic and himation, Gospels in right hand, IC - XC (Greek abbreviation: Ihsoús Xristós - Jesus Christ) across field; reverse bust of St. Demetrius, beardless, nimbate, wearing tunic, breastplate and sagion, spear in right hand over right shoulder, Θ left, Δ/I/M in a column right (Greek abbreviation: St. Demetrius); first specimen of this type handled by FORVM, zero sales of this type listed on Coin Archives in the last two decade; extremely rare; $200.00 (€188.00)
Byzantine Empire, Duchy of Chaldia, Gregorios Taronites, c. 1103 - 1106 A.D., In the Name of Alexius I Comnenus
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, 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, globule at 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)
Byzantine Empire, Heraclius, 5 October 610 - 11 January 641 A.D.
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
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 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 (as struck), 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, Duchy of Chaldia, Gregorios Taronites, c. 1103 - 1106 A.D., In the Name of Alexius I Comnenus
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.BZ113700. Bronze follis, Bendall Trebizond p. 133, 13B & pl. 7, 19; DOC IV-1 p. 433, 13b; Schlumberger pl. ii, 5; Hendy -; Wroth BMC -; Ratto -, aVF, off center, overstruck (on Alexius I anonymous Class J?) with strong undertype effects, pitting, weight 4.175 g, maximum diameter 27.2 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, globule at end of each arm, A-Λ / B - P (Greek abbreviation: Αλεξιο Βασιλευς Ρωμαιων - Alexius king of the Romans) in angles; rare; $160.00 (€150.40)
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