Classical Numismatic Group, LLC - Triton XXVIII – Sessions 1-4 . 815 Numistats ref: 673304
No match
Byzantine
Category
Michael III "the Drunkard", with Theodora and Thecla. 842-867. AV Solidus (21mm, 4.29 g, 6h). Constantinople mint. Struck 842-circa 843. + ΘЄO∂O RA ∂ЄSPVҺA, crowned facing half-length bust of Theodora, wearing loros, holding patriarchal globus cruciger in right hand and cruciform scepter in left / • mIXHL S Θ ЄCLA, crowned facing half-length figures of Michael, wearing chlamys, holding globus cruciger in right hand, and Thecla, to right, wearing loros, and holding patriarchal cross in right hand and akakia in left. DOC 1b; Füeg 1.D.12 (same rev. die as illustrated example); SB 1686. Toned, minor doubling, overstruck, clipped, minor marks and die marks. Good VF. Very rare. A pleasing and clear example for the type. This reverse die known from only a single example in the Füeg corpus.
Michael III was only two years old when his father Theophilus died in 842. His mother Theodora as regent was the effective ruler of the empire, and the first coinage of his reign gives her prominence on the obverse. Michael was generally kept in the background, even overshadowed on the coins by his sister Thecla such as on this early solidus issue. With Michael in isolation, Theodora maintained the empire with the assistance of her brothers, Bardas and Petronas, along with Theoktistos, the logothete of the dromos. During Theodora’s regency, she brought an end to the second iconoclastic controversy and demonstrated herself as an effective and capable ruler. In a typical example of Byzantine family intrigue, Theoktistos moved against Bardas, who in turn conspired with the young emperor in 856 to remove his mother’s regency and eliminate Theoktistos. Theoktistos was ultimately killed and Theodora was removed from power and confined to a convent. The conspiracy continued and Bardas was murdered in 865 by Basil, an ambitious court official who befriended Michael and soon became co-emperor. Basil proceeded to promptly eliminate his benefactor shortly thereafter.
Although Michael was given the unflattering epithet the "Drunkard," this smear on his name was perpetuated by Basil to justify his seizure of power. Michael appears to have been a conscientious ruler and capable military leader, his only fatal failing being that he was too easily swayed by his unscrupulous associates. Description
Michael III was only two years old when his father Theophilus died in 842. His mother Theodora as regent was the effective ruler of the empire, and the first coinage of his reign gives her prominence on the obverse. Michael was generally kept in the background, even overshadowed on the coins by his sister Thecla such as on this early solidus issue. With Michael in isolation, Theodora maintained the empire with the assistance of her brothers, Bardas and Petronas, along with Theoktistos, the logothete of the dromos. During Theodora’s regency, she brought an end to the second iconoclastic controversy and demonstrated herself as an effective and capable ruler. In a typical example of Byzantine family intrigue, Theoktistos moved against Bardas, who in turn conspired with the young emperor in 856 to remove his mother’s regency and eliminate Theoktistos. Theoktistos was ultimately killed and Theodora was removed from power and confined to a convent. The conspiracy continued and Bardas was murdered in 865 by Basil, an ambitious court official who befriended Michael and soon became co-emperor. Basil proceeded to promptly eliminate his benefactor shortly thereafter.
Although Michael was given the unflattering epithet the "Drunkard," this smear on his name was perpetuated by Basil to justify his seizure of power. Michael appears to have been a conscientious ruler and capable military leader, his only fatal failing being that he was too easily swayed by his unscrupulous associates. Description
Good VF
Grade
4314.38 EUR
Starting
7190.63 EUR
Estimate
EUR
Realized