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Rare Byzantine 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, 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
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 NC 137 (1977), 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

|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.
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, sheild in left hand, inscription flanking in columns O / A/GI/C - Θ/E/O/Δ (or similar, 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, 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)
 


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, Maurice Tiberius, 13 August 582 - 22 November 602 A.D.

|Maurice| |Tiberius|, |Byzantine| |Empire,| |Maurice| |Tiberius,| |13| |August| |582| |-| |22| |November| |602| |A.D.||half| |follis|NEW
Maurice Tiberius, a successful general, was selected by Tiberius II Constantine as his successor. He achieved a favorable peace with Persia and stemmed losses in Italy and Africa, much of the Balkans were lost. Focas, a junior officer, revolted. Maurice and Theodosius, his son and co-emperor, were captured and murdered.
BZ112947. Bronze half follis, cf. DOC I 86 (year 15), Wroth BMC 120 (same), Morrisson BnF 7/Th/AE/05 (same), Hahn MIB 113D, SBCV 509, Sommer 7.38 (none year 16), gF, green patina, obv. off center, light corrosion, edge ragged with sprue remnants, weight 5.116 g, maximum diameter 20.3 mm, die axis 180o, Thessalonica (Salonika, Greece) mint, 597 - 598 A.D.; obverse D N mAVRC TIbPPA (or similar), crowned and cuirassed bust facing, globus cruciger in right hand, shield on left shoulder; reverse large K (20 nummi), flanked by A/N/N/O (year) in column left, XVI (16) right, cross above, TES (Thessalonica) below; Unpublished in references examined, and after a cursory search online this is the only year 16 specimen of this type known to FORVM; extremely rare year; $100.00 (€94.00)
 


Byzantine Empire, Maurice Tiberius, 13 August 582 - 22 November 602 A.D.

|Maurice| |Tiberius|, |Byzantine| |Empire,| |Maurice| |Tiberius,| |13| |August| |582| |-| |22| |November| |602| |A.D.||decanummium|NEW
Maurice Tiberius achieved peace with Persia and stemmed losses in Italy and Africa, but lost much of the Balkans. When Focas, a junior officer, revolted Maurice and his son Theodosius were murdered.
BZ114026. Bronze decanummium, DOC I p. 350, 201 (not in coll., refs. Wroth); Wroth BMC p. 121, 130 (Tiberius II); Hahn MIB 100; Sommer 7.66; SBCV 536; BnF -; Ratto -; Tolstoi -, gF, dark patina, highlighting reddish earthen deposits, obv. off center but favoring type, weight 2.772 g, maximum diameter 16.5 mm, die axis 180o, Theoupolis-Antioch (Antakya, Turkey) mint, 589 - 590 A.D.; obverse blundered legend resembling Om TIUC-TANPP, bust facing, crown with trefoil ornament, consular robes, mappa in right hand, eagle-tipped scepter in left hand, blundered nonsense obverse legend; reverse large X (10 nummi), between A/N/N/O and Y/III (year 8), cross above, e below; rare; $50.00 (€47.00)
 


Byzantine Empire, Justinian II, 10 July 685 - Late 695 and Summer 705 - 4 November 711 A.D.

|Justinian| |II|, |Byzantine| |Empire,| |Justinian| |II,| |10| |July| |685| |-| |Late| |695| |and| |Summer| |705| |-| |4| |November| |711| |A.D.||solidus|
The portrait on this coin was based on an icon believed by the people of the time to bear a miraculous resemblance to Christ’s actual appearance.
SH21619. Gold solidus, DOC II-2 2b, Wroth BMC 1, Morrisson BnF 15/Cp/AV/12, Tolstoi 1, Ratto 1705, Hahn MIB 2b, Sommer 17.3, SBCV 1415, EF, weight 4.239 g, maximum diameter 19.2 mm, die axis 180o, Constantinople (Istanbul, Turkey) mint, 705 - 711 A.D.; obverse O N IhS ChS REX REGNANTIYM, bust of Christ facing, curly hair, short beard, wearing pallium and colobium, Gospels in left, cross behind head; reverse IYSTINIANYS ET TIbERIYS PP A, Justinian (on left) and Tiberius, half-length facing, each wears crown, divitision and chlamys, holding cross potent on three steps in center; very rare; SOLD




  



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REFERENCES|

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