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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; $720.00 (€727.20)
Byzantine Empire, Andronicus I, September 1183 - 12 September 1185 A.D.
Marchev and Watcher suggest the scarcity of this type my be due to limited or no minting during the Norman siege of Thessalonica.BZ95147. Bronze half tetarteron, CLBC 5.4.4; DOC IV-1 8; SBCV 1989; Hendy pl. 19, 4; Morrisson BnF - (p. 731); Wroth BMC 17-18; Ratto 2172; Sommer 62.6; Grierson 1115, aVF, weak strike, ragged flan with edge splits typical of type, weight 1.781 g, maximum diameter 16.1 mm, die axis 180o, Thessalonica (Salonika, Greece) mint, Sep 1183 - 12 Sep 1185 A.D.; obverse facing bust of the Virgin Orans, nimbate, wearing pallium and maphorium, the nimbate head of the infant Christ on her chest, MP - ΘV (Greek abbreviation: Mητηρ Θεου - Mother of God) across field; reverse AN∆PO, half-length figure of Andronicus facing with forked beard, wearing crown, scaramangion and sagion, labarum in left hand, globus cruciger in right hand; from the S. Lindner Collection; rare; $125.00 (€126.25)
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.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 + Iω ∆εC-ΠOT ΠΦVPOΓNHT (or similar), bust of John facing, wearing crown and loros, and holding cruciform scepter and globus cruciger; $110.00 (€111.10)
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.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 + Iω ∆εC-ΠOT ΠΦVPOΓNHT (or similar), bust of John facing, wearing crown and loros, and holding cruciform scepter and globus cruciger; $100.00 (€101.00)
Byzantine Empire, Alexius I Comnenus, 4 April 1081 - 15 August 1118 A.D.
NEW 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 - ∆ECΠT (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 (€80.80)
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.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 + Iω ∆εC-ΠOT ΠΦVPOΓNHT (or similar), bust of John facing, wearing crown and loros, and holding cruciform scepter and globus cruciger; $80.00 (€80.80)
Byzantine Empire, Romanus IV Diogenes, 1 January 1068 - 19 August 1071
In modern usage, the term despot means a ruler or other person who holds absolute power, typically one who exercises it in a cruel or oppressive way. The original Greek term meant simply "lord" and was the Greek equivalent to the Latin dominus. Despotes was initially used as a form of address indicating respect. As such, it was applied to any person of rank, but in a more specific sense to God, bishops and the patriarchs, and primarily the Roman and Byzantine Emperors.BZ99042. Bronze follis, DOC III-2 8, Morrisson BnF 53/Cp/AE/01, Wroth BMC 9 ff., Ratto 2030, Sommer 54.4, SBCV 1866, VF, dark patina, overstruck, weight 4.166 g, maximum diameter 25.9 mm, die axis 180o, Constantinople (Istanbul, Turkey) mint, 1 Jan 1068 - 19 Aug 1071; obverse bust of Jesus Christ, dotted cross behind, wearing tunic and himation, right hand raised in benediction, left hand holds the Gospels , IC - XC / NI-KA (Jesus Christ Conquers) flanking Christ's head; reverse Latin cross with X at center, one large and two small pellets at end of each arm, C R P ∆ (Greek abbreviation: Σταυρε Bοηθει Pωμανω ∆εσποτη - May the cross protect the despot Romanus) in the angles; from a Las Vegas dealer; $70.00 (€70.70)
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