Lot 3046

Description

Constantine IX, (A.D. 1042-1055), silver miliaresion (25mm), (2.01 g), Constantinople mint. obv. +**D*EC**P*OI NA CWZOIC, the Virgin Mary, orans, standing on a footstool rev. around EVCEBH MONOMAXON, Constantine standing, in military uniform, holding long cross and scabbard, (S.1834, DOC III 7b, R.1989). Very fine short on short flan, harshly cleaned, rare.

Ex Dr L.J. Sherwin Collection from CNG eSale 91, 14 June 2004 (lot 198)
Noted by CNG on this coin as follows. The military type is unsuited for the unwarlike Constantine, but the legend "O Lady, protect the pious Monomachos" certainly reflects the atmosphere of crisis during his reign, during which Constantine had to face several rebellions. The miliaresion is found in two sizes, of which this is the smaller. A hoard found at Oxarve in Sweden consisted of 100 pieces, evenly divided between the two types. Since contemporary hoards of gold show similar divisions between the histamenon and tetartron (meaning that payments were acceptable in both types as long as the percentages were equal), there must also have been a recognized difference between the two silver types.