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Byzantine Empire, Nicephorus Basilacius, Usurper, Summer 1078 A.D., Anonymous Class N Follis
Until 1976 this type was regarded as anonymous (Class N) because neither of the two known specimens had a visible legend. In 1976, Grierson published a new specimen with a legend naming the ruler, Nicephorus (Grierson, P. "Nicephorus Bryennius or Nicephorus Basilacius?" in NumCirc LXXXIV.1 (January 1976), type a). There were two candidates, Nicephorus Bryennius and Nicephorus Basilacius, both usurpers, Bryennius in 1077 - 1078, and Basilacius in Thessalonica for a few months during 1078. In 1992, Roger Bland published an example with the legend on the obverse right side reading POCBAC, which has been accepted as proving this type was struck by Basilacius (Bland, R. "A Follis of Nicephorus Basilacius?" NC 1992, p. 175 ff. and pl. 36, B). Our coin has a different more complete but blundered and obscure inscription on the obverse right side.BZ99035. Bronze follis, DOC III-2 p. 706, N.1 (anonymous class N follis); Grierson 1976, type a; Bland Basilacius pl. 36, B; SBCV 1903A (Ex. Rare); Sommer 58.1, F, uneven strike, overstruck with strong undertype effects, weight 5.863 g, maximum diameter 30.7 mm, Thessalonica (Salonika, Greece) mint, summer 1078 A.D.; obverse +NIKHΦW-POC BACIΛE (or similar), facing bust of Christ, nimbus cross with plain arms, wearing tunic and himation, right hand raised in blessing, Gospels in left, IC - XC flanking across field; reverse patriarchal cross on base; IC - XC / NI-KA (Jesus Christ conquers) in the quarters; from a Las Vegas dealer; extremely rare; $650.00 SALE PRICE $585.00
Bulgars in Byzantine Bulgaria(?), Anonymous Follis of Christ, Imitative of Class A3, c. 1023 - 1040 A.D.
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); $200.00 SALE PRICE $180.00
Crusaders, Principality of Antioch, Tancred, Regent, March 1101 - May 1103 and Late 1104 - December 1112
Tancred, a Norman leader of the 1st Crusade, became Prince of Galilee and regent of the Principality of Antioch when his uncle Bohemund was taken prisoner. He later took the County of Edessa when Baldwin II was captured, but Baldwin was released, defeated him and took it back. Tancred was made regent of Antioch again when Bohemund went to Europe to recruit more Crusaders. Tancred refused to honor a treaty in of fealty to the Byzantine Emperor, making Antioch independent, and ruled until his death in a typhoid epidemic.CR111245. Bronze follis, Metcalf Crusades pl. 5, 82; Malloy Crusaders p. 199, 5; Schlumberger pl. II, 8, gF, well centered, green patina, light earthen deposits, scratches, edge splits, overstruck, weight 2.921 g, maximum diameter 22.0 mm, die axis 180o, Antioch (Antakya, Turkey) mint, Mar 1101 - Dec 1112; obverse facing bust of Christ, wears nimbus cruciger ornamented with one pellet in each limb of cross, pallium, and colobium, Gospels in both hands, IC-XC (Greek abbreviation: IHΣOUΣ XPIΣTOΣ - Jesus Christ) across field; reverse cross pommée, fleuronnée at base, TA-NK/P-H in quarters; ex Morton & Eden auction 119 (6 Dec 2022), lot 333 (part of); $200.00 SALE PRICE $180.00
Byzantine Anonymous Follis of Christ, Class B, Romanus III or Michael IV, 12 November 1028 - 10 December 1041 A.D.
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.BZ110731. Bronze anonymous follis, Anonymous follis of Christ, DOC III-2, class B; SBCV 1823, aVF, green patina, irregularly shaped flan, rev. off center, some corrosion, weight 8.745 g, maximum diameter 30.1 mm, die axis 180o, Constantinople (Istanbul, Turkey) mint, obverse + EMMANOVHΛ (romanized Hebrew - God is with us), facing bust of Christ, wearing nimbus cruciger, pallium, and colobium, Gospels in both hands, IC - XC (Greek abbreviation: Ihsoús Xristós - Jesus Christ) across field; reverse cross on three steps with pellet at each extremity, in fields IS - XS (Greek abbreviation: Ihsoús Xristós - Jesus Christ) bAS-ILE / bAS-ILE (King of Kings); $140.00 SALE PRICE $126.00
Byzantine Empire, John II Comnenus, 15 August 1118 - 8 April 1143 A.D.
John II was the oldest son of Alexius I and succeeded to the throne in 1118. He was a good and capable ruler and did much to further the Byzantine Empire. He recaptured lost territory and added territory to the Empire. He attempted to curtail the trading privileges given to the Venetians but was forced to give up this idea. His reign was brought to an early end when he died in a hunting accident. His youngest son, Manuel I, succeeded him.BZ110676. Billon aspron trachy, DOC IV-I 10; CLBC 3.3.2; Morrisson BnF 60/Cp/B/02; Hendy pl. 10, 9; Wroth BMC 53; SBCV 1944; Grierson 1070; Sommer 60.7; Ratto -, VF/gVF, part of edge ragged, weight 3.301 g, maximum diameter 28.9 mm, die axis 180o, Constantinople (Istanbul, Turkey) mint, 15 Aug 1118 - 8 Apr 1143 A.D.; obverse IC-XC (Greek abbr.: Ihsoús Xristós - Jesus Christ), Bust of Christ facing, wearing nimbus cruciger, pallium, and colobium, raising right hand in benediction, gospels in left hand; reverse + ΙΩ ΔΕC-ΠΟΤ ΠΦVΡΟΓΝΗΤ (or similar), bust of John facing, wearing crown and loros, and holding cruciform scepter and globus cruciger; $110.00 SALE PRICE $99.00
Byzantine Empire, John II Comnenus, 15 August 1118 - 8 April 1143 A.D.
John II was the oldest son of Alexius I and succeeded to the throne in 1118. He was a good and capable ruler and did much to further the Byzantine Empire. He recaptured lost territory and added territory to the Empire. He attempted to curtail the trading privileges given to the Venetians but was forced to give up this idea. His reign was brought to an early end when he died in a hunting accident. His youngest son, Manuel I, succeeded him.BZ110677. Billon aspron trachy, DOC IV-I 10; CLBC 3.3.2; Morrisson BnF 60/Cp/B/02; Hendy pl. 10, 9; Wroth BMC 53; SBCV 1944; Grierson 1070; Sommer 60.7; Ratto -, VF/gVF, part of edge ragged, weight 3.566 g, maximum diameter 27.9 mm, die axis 180o, Constantinople (Istanbul, Turkey) mint, 15 Aug 1118 - 8 Apr 1143 A.D.; obverse IC-XC (Greek abbr.: Ihsoús Xristós - Jesus Christ), Bust of Christ facing, wearing nimbus cruciger, pallium, and colobium, raising right hand in benediction, gospels in left hand; reverse + ΙΩ ΔΕC-ΠΟΤ ΠΦVΡΟΓΝΗΤ (or similar), bust of John facing, wearing crown and loros, and holding cruciform scepter and globus cruciger; $100.00 SALE PRICE $90.00
Crusaders, Principality of Antioch, Tancred, Regent, March 1101 - May 1103 and Late 1104 - December 1112
Tancred, a Norman leader of the 1st Crusade, became Prince of Galilee and regent of the Principality of Antioch when his uncle Bohemund was taken prisoner. He later took the County of Edessa when Baldwin II was captured, but Baldwin was released, defeated him and took it back. Tancred was made regent of Antioch again when Bohemund went to Europe to recruit more Crusaders. Tancred refused to honor a treaty in of fealty to the Byzantine Emperor, making Antioch independent, and ruled until his death in a typhoid epidemic.CR111213. Bronze follis, Metcalf Crusades pl. 5, 82; Malloy Crusaders p. 199, 5; Schlumberger pl. II, 8, aVF, well centered on a broad flan, dark patina, earthen deposits, edge split, overstruck, weight 4.367 g, maximum diameter 24.5 mm, die axis 180o, Antioch (Antakya, Turkey) mint, Mar 1101 - Dec 1112; obverse facing bust of Christ, wears nimbus cruciger ornamented with one pellet in each limb of cross, pallium, and colobium, Gospels in both hands, IC-XC (Greek abbreviation: Ihsoús Xristós - Jesus Christ) across field; reverse cross pommée, fleuronnée at base, TA-NK/P-H in quarters; ex Aphrodite Art Coins (Wiesbaden, Germany) auction VI (22 Oct 2022), lot 1085; $90.00 SALE PRICE $81.00
Byzantine Empire, Alexius I Comnenus, 4 April 1081 - 15 August 1118 A.D.
Although he was not the founder of the Comnenian dynasty, it was during his reign that the Comnenus family came to full power. Inheriting a collapsing empire and faced with constant warfare during his reign against both the Seljuq Turks in Asia Minor and the Normans in the western Balkans, Alexius was able to curb the Byzantine decline and begin the military, financial, and territorial recovery known as the Comnenian restoration.BZ110675. Billon aspron trachy, DOC IV-1 25; Hendy III pl. 7, 2; Wroth BMC 14; Morrison BnF 59/Cp/Bi/01; Ratto 2064; SBCV 1918; Sommer 59.17, aVF/gVF, weight 4.958 g, maximum diameter 29.1 mm, die axis 180o, Constantinople (Istanbul, Turkey) mint, 2nd coinage, c. 1092 - 15 Aug 1118 A.D.; obverse Christ seated facing, throne with square back, bearded, nimbate, wearing pallium and colobium, Gospels in left hand, IC - XC (Greek abbreviation: Ihsoús Xristós - Jesus Christ) flanking back of throne; reverse + AΛEAΞIW - ΔECΠT (Alexius, despot), bust of Alexius facing, bearded, wearing crown with pendilia, stemma, divitision, and jeweled chlamys, cruciform scepter in right hand, globus cruciger in left hand; $80.00 SALE PRICE $72.00
Byzantine Empire, Michael VII Ducas, 24 October 1071 - 24 March 1078 A.D.
Sear notes the type is frequently overstruck on folles of Romanus IV, SBCV 1866.BZ110704. Bronze follis, DOC III-2 14a (star on Gospels cover); Wroth BMC 26; Morrisson BnF 55/Cp/AE/2; Ratto 2042; Berk 958; Sommer 55.8; SBCV 1878, VF, nice bust of Christ, nice green patina, overstruck with strong undertype effects, weight 5.264 g, maximum diameter 27.7 mm, die axis 180o, Constantinople (Istanbul, Turkey) mint, obverse bust of Christ facing, cross behind head, wearing pallium and colobium, raising right in benediction, Gospels in left hand, IC - XC (Greek abbreviation: ΙΗΣΟúΣ ΧΡΙΣΤΟΣ - Jesus Christ) flanking above large stars; reverse + MIXAHΛ RACIΛ O Δ, bearded bust facing wearing crown and loros, labarum in right, globus cruciger in left; $80.00 SALE PRICE $72.00
Byzantine Empire, John II Comnenus, 15 August 1118 - 8 April 1143 A.D.
John II was the oldest son of Alexius I and succeeded to the throne in 1118. He was a good and capable ruler and did much to further the Byzantine Empire. He recaptured lost territory and added territory to the Empire. He attempted to curtail the trading privileges given to the Venetians but was forced to give up this idea. His reign was brought to an early end when he died in a hunting accident. His youngest son, Manuel I, succeeded him.BZ110674. Billon aspron trachy, DOC IV-I 10; CLBC 3.3.2; Morrisson BnF 60/Cp/B/02; Hendy pl. 10, 9; Wroth BMC 53; SBCV 1944; Grierson 1070; Sommer 60.7; Ratto -, aF/VF, toned, scyphate, weight 3.254 g, maximum diameter 29.7 mm, die axis 180o, Constantinople (Istanbul, Turkey) mint, 15 Aug 1118 - 8 Apr 1143 A.D.; obverse IC-XC (Greek abbr.: Ihsoús Xristós - Jesus Christ), Bust of Christ facing, wearing nimbus cruciger, pallium, and colobium, raising right hand in benediction, gospels in left hand; reverse + ΙΩ ΔΕC-ΠΟΤ ΠΦVΡΟΓΝΗΤ (or similar), bust of John facing, wearing crown and loros, and holding cruciform scepter and globus cruciger; $80.00 SALE PRICE $72.00
Christ is the English term for the Greek Khristós meaning "the anointed." It is a translation of the Hebrew Ma?îah. The word is often misunderstood to be the surname of Jesus due to the numerous mentions of Jesus Christ in the Christian Bible. The word is in fact a title, hence its common reciprocal use Christ Jesus, meaning The Anointed One, Jesus.
Catalog current as of Friday, June 2, 2023. Page created in 1.703 seconds.