Comnen Dynasty

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Byzantine Coins of the Comnen Dynasty

Byzantine Empire, Romanus IV, 1 January 1068 - 19 August 1071 A.D.

Based on seal inscriptions, the letters on the reverse have been interpreted to abbreviate, Σταυρε βοηθει Pwmavov ∆εσποτην (O Cross, aid our ruler Romanus).BZ84931. Bronze follis, DOC III, part 2, 8; Morrisson BnF 1; Wroth BMC 9; Ratto 2030; Sommer 54.4; SBCV 1866, Choice VF, full clear face of Jesus (worn flat on most examples), small flan cracks, weight 7.818 g, maximum diameter 27.2 mm, die axis 180^o, Constantinople (Istanbul, Turkey) mint, 1 Jan 1068 - 19 Aug 1071 A.D.; obverse bust of Christ facing, wears pallium and colobium, Gospels in both hands, dotted cross behind head, IC - XC / NI-KA (Jesus Christ Conquers) flanking in two divided lines across the field; reverse cross with X at center and globus and pellets at the end of each arm, pellets and points at base, C - R / P - ∆ in the angles; $230.00 (�204.70)

Crusaders(?), Imitative of Zangids of Syria, c. 1146 - 1200 A.D.,

This coin is a crude imitative of an Islamic fals of the Zangids of Syria, Nur al-Din Mahmud, struck at Halab (Aleppo, Syria), 1146 - 1173 (Spengler-Sayles 73, Album 1850). That type was itself also imitative, copying a Byzantine follis of Constantine X, struck at Constantinople (Istanbul, Turkey), 1059 - 1067 (DOC III 8, SBCV 1853). The quality of the Zangids fals vary greatly and it can be difficult to distinguish between Halab mint issues and imitatives. This example is very crude and if any can be attributed to the crusaders, this is one.BZ77974. Bronze follis, Malloy Crusaders -; cf. Spengler-Sayles 73 (notes "barbaric" imitations), Album 1850 (notes imitations are perhaps struck by the Crusaders), F, desert patina, tight flan, weight 2.798 g, maximum diameter 22.0 mm, die axis 180^o, uncertain mint, c. 1150 - 1200 A.D.; obverse two Byzantine style imperial figures (Constantine X and Eudocia) standing facing, supporting between them labarum resting on three steps, EX downward on left, imitation of Kufic legend inner left; reverse Christ standing facing, nimbate, book of Gospels in left hand, right hand on hip, IC - XC flanking head, blundered imitation of legend around; from the Butte College Foundation, ex Lindgren; $140.00 (�124.60)

Byzantine Empire, Romanus IV, 1 January 1068 - 19 August 1071 A.D.

Based on seal inscriptions, the letters on the reverse have been interpreted to abbreviate, Σταυρε βοηθει Pwmavov ∆εσποτην (O Cross, aid our ruler Romanus).BZ83532. Bronze follis, DOC III, part 2, 8; Morrisson BnF 1; Wroth BMC 9; Ratto 2030; Sommer 54.4; SBCV 1866, VF, overstruck, light marks, green patina, small edge crack, weight 5.994 g, maximum diameter 29.8 mm, die axis 180^o, Constantinople (Istanbul, Turkey) mint, 1 Jan 1068 - 19 Aug 1071 A.D.; obverse bust of Christ facing, wears pallium and colobium, Gospels in both hands, dotted cross behind head, IC - XC / NI-KA (Jesus Christ Conquers) flanking in two divided lines across the field; reverse cross with X at center and globus and pellets at the end of each arm, pellets and points at base, C - R / P - ∆ in the angles; $140.00 (�124.60)

Byzantine Anonymous Follis of Christ, Class G, Romanus IV, 1 January 1068 - 19 August 1071 A.D.

Orans, is a Medieval Latin word meaning one who is praying or pleading, also Orant or Orante, is a posture or bodily attitude of prayer, usually standing, with the elbows close to the sides of the body and with the hands outstretched sideways, palms up.BZ77162. Bronze anonymous follis, Anonymous follis of Christ, class G; SBCV 1867, VF, well centered, overstruck, flan crack, weight 9.537 g, maximum diameter 28.5 mm, die axis 180^o, Constantinople (Istanbul, Turkey) mint, 1 Jan 1068 - 19 Aug 1071 A.D.; obverse bust of Christ facing, wearing nimbus cruciger, pallium, and colobium, raising right in benediction, scroll in left hand, to left IC, to right XC, border of large pellets; reverse facing bust of the Virgin Orans, nimbate and wearing pallium and maphorium, to left MP, to right ΘV; border of large pellets; scarce; $135.00 (�120.15)

Byzantine Anonymous Follis of Christ, Class G, Romanus IV, 1 January 1068 - 19 August 1071 A.D.

Orans, from Medieval Latin, means one who is praying or pleading, also Orant or Orante, is a posture or bodily attitude of prayer, usually standing, with the elbows close to the sides of the body and with the hands outstretched sideways, palms up.BZ71733. Bronze anonymous follis, Anonymous follis of Christ, class G; SBCV 1867, VF, well centered, weight 10.025 g, maximum diameter 27.9 mm, die axis 180^o, Constantinople (Istanbul, Turkey) mint, 1 Jan 1068 - 19 Aug 1071 A.D.; obverse bust of Christ facing, wearing nimbus cruciger, pallium, and colobium, raising right in benediction, scroll in left hand, to left IC, to right XC, border of large pellets; reverse facing bust of the Virgin Orans, nimbate and wearing pallium and maphorium, to left MP, to right ΘV; border of large pellets; scarce; $110.00 (�97.90)

Byzantine Empire, Alexius I and John II, Autumn 1092 - 15 August 1118 A.D., John II Coronation Issue

Issued for celebrations throughout the Empire to honor the coronation of John II as co-emperor in 1092. This scarce type and two rare types issued for the coronation, are traditionally identified as the earliest tetarteron. They may actually be sphragidia that were distributed only to a select group of people who participated in the celebrations, or for charitable purposes.BZ53332. Lead tetarteron, DOC IV, part 1, 42.2 ff.; Grierson 1046 (Constantinople, half tetarteron), SBCV -, aF, weight 4.317 g, maximum diameter 16.3 mm, die axis 180^o, uncertain mint, c. 1092 - 1093 A.D.; obverse IC - XC, bust of Christ facing, nimbate, bearded, wearing tunic and colobium, open Gospels in left; reverse AΛCE ∆EC, bust of Alexius facing, wearing stemma, divitision, and jeweled loros, cruciform scepter in right, globus cruciger in left; ex Alex G. Malloy; scarce; $80.00 (�71.20)

Byzantine Empire, Constantine X Ducas, 25 December 1059 - 21 May 1067 A.D.

In 1064, the Seljuk Turks stormed Anatolia, taking Caesarea and Ani, marking the beginning of Turkish incursions into Anatolia.BZ77970. Bronze follis, DOC III, part 2, 9; SBCV 1854; Sommer 52.7; Wroth BMC 32; Morrisson BnF 31; Ratto 2018; overstruck on SBCV 1853, aVF, areas of corrosion, weight 9.291 g, maximum diameter 29.5 mm, die axis 180^o, Constantinople (Istanbul, Turkey) mint, 25 Dec 1059 - 21 May 1067; obverse + EMMANOVHΛ, bust of Christ facing, wearing nimbus cruciger, pallium, and colobium, raising right in benediction, Gospels in left, IC-XC; reverse +KWN RACIΛ-EVC O ∆OVK, Constantine X bust facing, bearded, wearing crown and loros, holding cross and akakia; from the Butte College Foundation, ex Lindgren; $55.00 (�48.95)

Byzantine Empire, Manuel I Comnenus, 8 April 1143 - 24 September 1180 A.D.

Gibbons Decline & Fall says of Manuel I, "The first in the charge, the last in the retreat, his friends and his enemies alike trembled, the former for his safety, and the latter for their own."BZ79671. Bronze tetarteron, SBCV 1968; DOC IV, part 1, 15; Hendy pl. 17, 7; Wroth BMC 59; Morrison BnF BnF 61/X/AE/11; Ratto 2148; Sommer 61.13, aF, well centered, weight 4.521 g, maximum diameter 21.2 mm, die axis 180^o, uncertain Greek mint, c. 1152 - 1160 A.D.; obverse the Theotokos (Virgin Mary) standing right, raising both hands, being blessed by manus Dei (hand of god) to upper right, MP - ΘV flanking across field; reverse MANVHΛ ∆ECΠOTHC, emperor standing facing, wearing crown, divitision and chlamys, long cross in right hand, akakia in left hand.; from the Butte College Foundation, ex Lindgren; $50.00 (�44.50)

Byzantine Empire, Manuel I Comnenus, 8 April 1143 - 24 September 1180 A.D.

St. George is the Patron Saint of England. Traditionally, the sword with which St. George slew the dragon was called Ascalon, a name recalling the city of Ashkelon, Israel. During World War II, Winston Churchill named his personal aircraft Ascalon, after St. George's sword. BZ45637. Bronze half tetarteron, DOC IV, part 1, 23; Hendy pl. 18, 3; Morrisson BnF 61/X/AE/05; Wroth BMC 78; Ratto 2158; SBCV 1980; Sommer 61.25, VF, nice green patina, flan cracks, weight 1.565 g, maximum diameter 17.0 mm, die axis 180^o, uncertain Greek mint, 1152 - c. 1160 A.D.; obverse Θ / Γ/ε−ωP/ΓI/OC (or similar), bust of St. George facing, beardless, wearing nimbus, tunic, cuirass, and sagion, spear in right, shield in left; reverse MANYH ∆εCΠOT, Manuel, bust facing, wearing crown and loros, labarum in right, globus cruciger in left; $45.00 (�40.05)

Catalog current as of Wednesday, July 26, 2017.
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