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Empire of Nicaea, John III Ducas-Vatatzes, c. 15 December 1221 - 3 November 1254
NEW John was a very successful ruler who greatly increased the size, influence, and prosperity of the Nicaean Empire. He prepared the way for his descendants to successfully restore Greek rule to Constantinople and to rule the restored Byzantine Empire.BZ99289. Bronze tetarteron, Lianta 285; DOC IV-2 58; Hendy pl. 34, 4; Wroth BMCV 36; Ratto 2290; Sommer 70.16; SBCV 2116, Nice VF, broad flan, highlighting earthen deposits, weight 2.505 g, maximum diameter 21.5 mm, die axis 150o, Lydia, Magnesia ad Sipylum (Manisa, Turkey) mint, c. 15 Dec 1221 - 3 Nov 1254; obverse bust of St. George facing, nimbate, wearing military attire, spear in right hand, shield on left arm, A in circle left, ΓPw monogram right; reverse Iw / ∆EC/ΠO - OΛOY/K/A/C (or similar, in columns left and right, OY ligate), John standing facing, wearing stemma with pendilia, chlamys, and divitision, labarum in right hand, globus cruciger in left hand; from the S. Lindner Collection; rare; $260.00 SALE PRICE $234.00
Byzantine Empire, John II Comnenus, 15 August 1118 - 8 April 1143 A.D.
NEW According to the Golden Legend, a plague-bearing dragon lived in a lake near a city called Silene, in Libya. To appease the dragon, the people fed it two sheep every day. When the sheep failed, they fed it their children, chosen by lottery. It happened that the lot fell on the king's daughter, Sabra. Sabra was sent out to the lake, dressed as a bride, to be fed to the dragon. Saint George was ridding past when dragon reared out of the lake. He fortified himself with the Sign of the Cross charged it on horseback with his lance, and gave it a grievous wound. He then called to the princess to throw him her girdle. After he put it around its neck, the dragon followed the girl like a meek beast on a leash. The princess and Saint George led the dragon back to the city of Silene. It terrified the people at its approach, but Saint George called out to them, saying that if they consented to become Christians and be baptized, he would slay the dragon. The king and the people converted to Christianity and George slew the dragon. On the site where the dragon died, the king built a church to the Blessed Virgin Mary and Saint George, and from its altar a spring arose whose waters cured all disease.SH99294. Electrum aspron trachy, DOC IV-1 8b; Hendy pl. 10, 2; Morrisson BnF 60/Cp/El/02; Wroth BMC 49; CLBC I 3.2.1; Grierson 1067; SBCV 1941; Sommer 60.4; Ratto -, aEF, scyphate, edge split, edge chip, light marks, excellent reverse!, weight 3.949 g, maximum diameter 31.9 mm, die axis 180o, Constantinople (Istanbul, Turkey) mint, 15 Aug 1118 - 1122 A.D.; obverse Christ seated facing on throne without back, bearded, wearing tunic and kolobion, raising right in benediction, gospels in left hand, IC - XC (Greek abbr.: Ihsoús Xristós - Jesus Christ) flanking nimbus, pellet (control) at each side of throne; reverse + Iw / ∆ECΠO/TH in column of four rows on left - Θ / ΓE/PW/ΓI in column of four rows on right, John (on left) and St. George standing facing, together holding patriarchal cross on a small globe between them, John wearing crown, divitision, and chlamys with dot (control symbol) below the tablion, St. George nimbate, in military dress, left hand on sword at side; from the S. Lindner Collection; ex Savoca auction 26 (14 Oct 2018), lot 541; scarce; $250.00 SALE PRICE $225.00
German States, Bishopric of Halberstadt, Gerno von Schembke, 1160 - 1177
NEW The Diocese of Halberstadt was a Roman Catholic diocese from 804 until 1648. From 1180, the bishops or administrators of Halberstadt ruled a state within the Holy Roman Empire, the prince-bishopric of Halberstadt. The diocesan seat and secular capital was Halberstadt in present-day Saxony-Anhalt. Gerno von Schembke was the Bishop of Halberstadt from 1160 to 1177.ME92042. Silver bracteate, cf. Svensson 8.1, BBB I 15.17, Bonhoff I 483, Berger 1325, VF, well centered, toned, parts of legends weakly struck, weight 0.835 g, maximum diameter 25.7 mm, die axis 0o, Halberstadt mint, 1160 - 1177; obverse + S – STEPHANVS PROTOMARTI, bust of St. Stephen facing, nimbate, draped, three pellets left and star right; reverse incuse of obverse; ex Münzenhdl. Brom (Berlin); $240.00 SALE PRICE $216.00
Byzantine Empire, Alexius III Angelus-Comnenus, 8 April 1195 - 17 July 1203
According to the Golden Legend, a plague-bearing dragon lived in a lake near a city called Silene, in Libya. To appease the dragon, the people fed it two sheep every day. When the sheep failed, they fed it their children, chosen by lottery. It happened that the lot fell on the king's daughter, Sabra. Sabra was sent out to the lake, dressed as a bride, to be fed to the dragon. Saint George was ridding past when dragon reared out of the lake. He fortified himself with the Sign of the Cross charged it on horseback with his lance, and gave it a grievous wound. He then called to the princess to throw him her girdle. After he put it around its neck, the dragon followed the girl like a meek beast on a leash. The princess and Saint George led the dragon back to the city of Silene. It terrified the people at its approach, but Saint George called out to them, saying that if they consented to become Christians and be baptized, he would slay the dragon. The king and the people converted to Christianity and George slew the dragon. On the site where the dragon died, the king built a church to the Blessed Virgin Mary and Saint George, and from its altar a spring arose whose waters cured all disease.BZ90229. Bronze tetarteron, DOC IV-1 5a; CLBC I 8.4.3; Hendy p. 152 and pl. 23, 9-10; Wroth BMC 39; Grierson 1138; Ratto 2214; SBCV 2015; Sommer 66.6, gVF, well centered on a typical tight flan, porosity, some light corrosion, weight 3.720 g, maximum diameter 18.2 mm, die axis 180o, Thessalonica (Salonika, Greece) mint, 8 Apr 1195 - 17 Jul 1203; obverse half-length facing bust of St. George, beardless and nimbate, wearing military attire: cuirass and sagion, transverse spear in right hand, left hand resting on hilt of sword, O / ΓE/WP-ΓI/OC (in columns to left and right, WP ligate); reverse AΛEΣIOC - ∆ECΠOTHC (or similar), half length figure of Alexius standing facing, wearing crown, divitision, and chlamys, labarum in right hand, globus cruciger in left hand; ex S. Lindner Collection; rare; $225.00 SALE PRICE $203.00
Byzantine Empire, John II Comnenus, 15 August 1118 - 8 April 1143 A.D.
NEW 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.BZ99293. Electrum aspron trachy, DOC-1 IV 8d; Morrisson BnF 60/Cp/El/3; Wroth BMC 46; Ratto 2098; Grierson 1068; CLBC I 3.2.2; Sommer 60.5; SBCV 1942, VF, scyphate, obv. double struck, graffiti/scratches, weight 3.662 g, maximum diameter 32.2 mm, die axis 180o, Constantinople (Istanbul, Turkey) mint, 1122 - 8 Apr 1143 A.D.; obverse Christ seated facing on throne without back, bearded, wearing tunic and kolobion, raising right in benediction, gospels in left hand, IC - XC (Greek abbreviation: Ihsoús Xristós - Jesus Christ) flanking nimbus, three pellets at each side of throne; reverse + Iw / ∆ECΠO/TH in column of four rows on left, Θ / ΓE/PW/ΓI in column of four rows on right, John (on left) and St. George standing facing, together holding patriarchal cross on a small globe between them, John wearing crown, divitision, and chlamys with dot (control symbol) below the tablion, St. George nimbate, in military dress, left hand on sword at side; from the S. Lindner Collection; ex Numismatic Naumann auction 71 (4 Nov 2018), lot 680; $220.00 SALE PRICE $198.00
Byzantine Empire, Alexius III Angelus-Comnenus, 8 April 1195 - 17 July 1203
NEW According to the Golden Legend, a plague-bearing dragon lived in a lake near a city called Silene, in Libya. To appease the dragon, the people fed it two sheep every day. When the sheep failed, they fed it their children, chosen by lottery. It happened that the lot fell on the king's daughter, Sabra. Sabra was sent out to the lake, dressed as a bride, to be fed to the dragon. Saint George was ridding past when dragon reared out of the lake. He fortified himself with the Sign of the Cross charged it on horseback with his lance, and gave it a grievous wound. He then called to the princess to throw him her girdle. After he put it around its neck, the dragon followed the girl like a meek beast on a leash. The princess and Saint George led the dragon back to the city of Silene. It terrified the people at its approach, but Saint George called out to them, saying that if they consented to become Christians and be baptized, he would slay the dragon. The king and the people converted to Christianity and George slew the dragon. On the site where the dragon died, the king built a church to the Blessed Virgin Mary and Saint George, and from its altar a spring arose whose waters cured all disease.BZ99288. Bronze tetarteron, DOC IV-1 5a.2; CLBC I 8.4.3; Morrison BnF 1; Hendy p. 152 & pl. 23, 9; Wroth BMC 39; Grierson 1138; Ratto 2214; SBCV 2015; Sommer 66.6, F, near black patina, tight square flan, some corrosion, weight 4.411 g, maximum diameter 19.3 mm, die axis 180o, Thessalonica (Salonika, Greece) mint, 8 Apr 1195 - 17 Jul 1203; obverse half-length facing bust of St. George, beardless and nimbate, wearing military attire: cuirass and sagion, transverse spear in right hand, left hand resting on hilt of sword, O / ΓE/WP-ΓI/OC (in columns in left and right fields); reverse AΛEΣIOC - ∆ECΠOTHC (or similar), half length figure of Alexius standing facing, wearing crown, divitision, and chlamys, labarum in right hand, globus cruciger in left hand; from the S. Lindner Collection; rare; $140.00 SALE PRICE $126.00
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.CR98525. Bronze follis, Metcalf Crusades pl. III, 50; Malloy Crusaders p. 199, 3a; Schlumberger pl. II, 6, aVF, tight ragged flan, porosity, areas of weak strike, light scrapes, weight 3.744 g, maximum diameter 20.8 mm, die axis 0o, Antioch (Antakya, Turkey) mint, c. 1101 - 1103; obverse nimbate bust of St. Peter (patron saint of Antioch) facing, short curly hair and curly beard, scroll in right hand, cross in left hand, O / ΠE-TP/O/C (TP ligate) divided across field; reverse + / KE BOI /ΘH TO ∆V / ΛO COV T / ANKPI (O Lord, help your servant Tancred) in five lines; ex Leu Numismatik, auction 16 (22 May 2021), lot 4202; ex J. Knudsen collection (formed from the late 1970s to the late 1990s); $100.00 SALE PRICE $90.00