Catalogue
Constans II, (641-668), gold solidus, Constantinople mint, issued 651-4, (4.384 grams), officina **D*, obv. bust facing of Constans with long beard, wearing chlamys and crown, around dN CONStAN TINUS PP AV, rev. cross potent on base and three steps, below CONOB, around VICTORIA AVGU**D*, (S.956 (£250 EF), DOC (19d], BMC 31). With some mint bloom, slightly off centred reverse, extremely fine and scarce.
Estimate $500
SOLD $440
Basil I the Macedonian and Constantine, (A.D.867-886), gold solidus, Constantinople mint, issued from A.D. 867-879, (4.398 grams), obv. Christ enthroned facing wearing nimbus, raising right hand in benediction, also holding Gospels, the throne has curved ornamented arms, around + IhS XPS REX REGNANTIUM*, rev. bASILIOS ET CONSTANT' AUGG' b' around, facing busts of Basil I wearing loros on left and Romanus II wearing chlamys on right, both crowned, between them long patriarchal cross, (S.1704, DOC 2b, R.1858). Extremely fine or better and rare.
Estimate $900
SOLD $880
Basil I the Macedonian and Constantine, (A.D.867-886), gold solidus, Constantinople mint, issued from A.D. 867-879, (4.364 grams), obv. Christ enthroned facing wearing nimbus, raising right hand in benediction, also holding Gospels, the throne has curved ornamented arms, around + IhS XPS REX REGNANTIUM*, rev. bASILIOS ET CONSTANT' AUGG' b' around, facing busts of Basil I wearing loros on left and Romanus II wearing chlamys on right, both crowned, between them long patriarchal cross, (S.1704, DOC 2b, R.1858). Good very fine and scarce.
Estimate $750
SOLD $600
Romanus I and Christopher, (A.D.920-944), gold solidus, Constantinople mint, issued from A.D. 921-930, (4.312 grams), obv. Christ enthroned facing wearing nimbus, raising right hand in benediction, also holding Gospels, around + IhS XPS REX REGNANTIUM*, rev. ROMAN' ET XPISTOFO AUGG' b' around, facing busts of Romanus I with short beard and Christopher, both crowned, between them long patriarchal cross, (S.1745, DOC 7, R.1892). Good very fine and very scarce.
Estimate $700
SOLD $840
Constantine X, (A.D.1059-1067), scyphate gold histamenon nomisma, Constantinople mint, (4.288 grams), obv. Christ seated facing on throne with curved arms, wearing nimbus, raising right hand, in left hand the Gospels, IhS IXC REX REgNANTInm around, rev. +KWN RAC L DOVKAC, around standing figure of Constantine facing, bearded, wearing crown, saccos and loros, holding globe with cross has hand placed on his head by Virgin standing to right, M between, (S.1848, DOC 2, R.2011, BMC 4-7). Surface scratches, otherwise extremely fine and scarce.
Estimate $500
SOLD $360
Romanus IV, (1068-1071), gold histamenon nomisma (scyphate), Constantinople mint, Class II, (4.380 grams), obv. Christ standing on footstool, with nimbus crowning Romanus and Eudocia, IC XC, around +PWMA EVDKKA (sic), rev. Michael in centre, Constantius on left, and Andronicus on right, without footstools, around KWN MX AND, (S.1861, DOC.2, R.2026). Nearly extremely fine and scarce.
Estimate $700
SOLD $520
Michael VII, (A.D.1071-1078), electrum gold histamenon nomisma (scyphate), Constantinople mint, (4.258 grams), obv. bearded Christ enthroned facing, wearing nimbus, raising right hand, in left hand the Gospels, IC XC across, double dotted border, rev. +MIXAHL BACIL A, around bust of Michael facing, bearded wearing crown and loros, holding labarum without pellet on shaft and globe with cross, (S.1869, DOC 1, BMC 1, R.-). Good bust of bearded Christ, minor surface marks, extremely fine.
Estimate $700
SOLD $500
Michael VII, (A.D.1071-1078), electrum gold histamenon nomisma (scyphate), Constantinople mint, (4.352 grams), obv. bearded Christ enthroned facing, wearing nimbus, raising right hand, in left hand the Gospels, IC XC across, double dotted border, rev. +MIXAHL BACIL A, around bust of Michael facing, bearded wearing crown and loros, holding labarum without pellet on shaft and globe with cross, (S.1869, DOC 1, BMC 1, R.-). Good bust of bearded Christ, heavy obverse scratches, otherwise good very fine/nearly extremely fine and rare.
Estimate $500
SOLD $340
Nicephorus III, (A.D.1078-1081), electrum gold histamenon nomisma (scyphate), Constantinople mint, (4.176 grams), obv. bearded Christ enthroned no back, facing, wearing nimbus, raising right hand, in left hand the Gospels, IC XC across, double dotted border, rev. +NIKH**F D*EC T W ROTANIAT, around bust of Nicophorus facing, bearded wearing crown and loros, holding labarum with X on shaft and globe with cross, (S.1881, DOC 3, BMC 7-11, R.2051-2). Good bust of bearded Christ, nearly extremely fine and scarce.
Estimate $450
SOLD $320
Nicephorus III, (A.D.1078-1081), electrum gold histamenon nomisma (scyphate), Constantinople mint, (4.124 grams), obv. bearded Christ enthroned no back, facing, wearing nimbus, raising right hand, in left hand the Gospels, IC XC across, double dotted border, rev. +NIKH**F D*EC T W ROTANIAT, around bust of Nicophorus facing, bearded wearing crown and loros, holding labarum with X on shaft and globe with cross, (S.1881, DOC 3, BMC 7-11, R.2051-2). Good bust of bearded Christ, good very fine and scarce.
Estimate $400
SOLD $300
Manuel I, (1143-1180), gold hyperpyron (scyphate), Constantinople mint, (4.220 grams), obv. Christ bust facing, beardless wearing nimbus, IC XC over to left KE RO, to right H**Q*EI, rev. facing figure of Manuel standing wearing crown, holding patriarchal cross to right 'manus Dei' legend to left **ML/NWHL/ DE*C/**PO /TH to right **TW/ PO/ FU/R[O]/GE/ NH/TW*, (S.1956 [£300 EF], Hendy Pl.12, 1-11, BMC 1-13, R.2111-4). Brilliant, good extremely fine/nearly extremely fine and rare.
Estimate $800
SOLD $500
John III Ducas called Vatatzes, Empire of Nicaea, (A.D. 1222/3-1254), gold hyperpyron nomisma, Magnesia mint, (4.592 grams), second coinage transitional to late style, issued 1232-1254, obv. Christ enthroned facing nimbate, raising hand, IC XC either side of head, rev. John standing left being crowned by the Virgin Mary, to left and right traces of legend, (S.2073, DOC 5, Vol.4, pl.XXIX and XXX, H.Pl.32, 3-5). Extremely fine and very scarce, double struck on obverse, coin struck from three dies.
Estimate $650
SOLD $440
Andronicus II and Andronicus III, (1325-1328 or later), joint reign, gold hyperpyron (scyphate), Constantinople mint, (3.300 grams), obv. bust of Virgin within city walls and four towers, control letters :./[K], :./X to left and right, rev. Andronicus II and Andronicus III to left and right with Christ standing between both emperors, traces of partial legend downwards of each emperor, (S.2461, Bendall PCPC 185.3 var.14, DOC 502). Large flan, weak in places as usual, otherwise very fine.
Estimate $400
SOLD $0
Andronicus II and Andronicus III, (1325-1328 or later), joint reign, gold hyperpyron (scyphate), Constantinople mint, (3.456 grams), obv. bust of Virgin within city walls and four towers, control letters N X to left and right, rev. Andronicus II and Andronicus III to left and right with Christ standing between both emperors, traces of partial legend downwards of each emperor, (S.2461, Bendall PCPC cf.185 var.15, DOC 503). Small flan, very weak in places as usual, otherwise very fine.
Estimate $300
SOLD $130