Auction 126 - Session 4
Date: 2024-05-28 00:00:00
Lots: 318
Total starting: $ 0.00
Total realized: $ 0.00 (+0.00%)
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Classical Numismatic Group, LLC - Auction 126 - Session 4 . 990
Michael III "the Drunkard", with Theodora and Thecla. 842-867. AV Solidus (21.5mm, 4.40 g, 6h). Constantinople mint. Struck 842-circa 843. Crowned facing bust of Theodora, wearing loros, holding patriarchal globus cruciger and cruciform scepter / Crowned facing half-length figure of Michael, wearing chlamys, and holding globus cruciger, and crowned half-length figure of Thecla, to right, wearing loros, and holding patriarchal cross and akakia. DOC 1d; Füeg 1.B.2; SB 1686. Toned, slightly wavy flan, minor metal flaws, some die breaks and spots of die rust on reverse, minor dig, a few light scratches. VF. Very rare. From the Family of Constantine Collection, assembled with guidance by Roland Michel, Geneva. Ex Malcolm W. Heckman Collection (Triton VIII, 11 January 2005), lot 1418.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. 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 the second iconoclastic controversy and demonstrated herself 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 along with Theoktistos. Theoktistos was killed and Theodora 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. He 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 and fatal failing being that he was too easily swayed by his unscrupulous associates.
Classical Numismatic Group, LLC - Auction 126 - Session 4 . 991
Michael III "the Drunkard", with Theodora. 842-867. AV Solidus (19mm, 4.40 g, 6h). Constantinople mint. Struck circa 843-856. Nimbate facing bust of Christ Pantokrator, raising hand in benediction and holding Gospels / Crowned facing half-length figures of Michael, wearing chlamys, and Theodora, wearing loros; cross above. DOC 2; Füeg 2.B; SB 1687. Toned. Good VF. Very rare. From the Family of Constantine Collection, assembled with guidance by Roland Michel, Geneva. Ex Dr. Anton C. R. Dreesmann Collection (Part II, Spink 144, 13 July 2000), lot 631; Münzen und Medaillen AG 52 (19 June 1975), lot 860.
Classical Numismatic Group, LLC - Auction 126 - Session 4 . 992
Michael III "the Drunkard". 842-867. AV Solidus (20.5mm, 4.35 g, 6h). Constantinople mint. Struck 856-867. Nimbate facing bust of Christ Pantokrator, raising hand in benediction and holding Gospels / Crowned facing bust of Michael, wearing loros, holding labarum and akakia. DOC 3; Füeg 3.A; SB 1688. Toned, slightly clipped. EF. Rare. From the Family of Constantine Collection, assembled with guidance by Roland Michel, Geneva. Ex Triton VIII (11 January 2005), lot 1419.
Classical Numismatic Group, LLC - Auction 126 - Session 4 . 993
Basil I the Macedonian, with Constantine. 867-886. AV Solidus (19.5mm, 4.46 g, 6h). Constantinople mint. Struck 868-879. Christ Pantokrator enthroned facing on suppedion, nimbate, raising hand in benediction and holding Gospels / Crowned facing half-length figures of Basil, wearing loros, and Constantine, wearing chlamys, holding patriarchal cross between them. DOC 2b; Füeg 3.B; SB 1704. Toned with some luster. EF. A vibrant strike. From the Family of Constantine Collection, assembled with guidance by Roland Michel, Geneva.
Classical Numismatic Group, LLC - Auction 126 - Session 4 . 994
Leo VI the Wise, with Constantine VII. 886-912. AV Solidus (19.5mm, 4.33 g, 6h). Constantinople mint. Struck 908-912. Christ Pantokrator enthroned facing on suppedion, nimbate, raising hand in benediction and holding Gospels / Crowned facing figures of Leo and Constantine, both wearing loros decorated with a cross at end and holding globus cruciger, together holding patriarchal cross between them. DOC 2; Füeg 3.C.2 note; SB 1725. Toned, a couple of minor marks at edge. Good VF. From the Family of Constantine Collection, assembled with guidance by Roland Michel, Geneva. Ex Gorny & Mosch 121 (10 March 2003), lot 540.
Classical Numismatic Group, LLC - Auction 126 - Session 4 . 995
Alexander. 912-913. AV Solidus (21.5mm, 4.35 g, 6h). Constantinople mint. Christ Pantokrator enthroned facing on suppedion, nimbate, raising hand in benediction and holding Gospels / Crowned facing figure of Alexander, wearing loros decorated with a cross at end and holding globus cruciger, being crowned by St. Alexander, to right, holding cross. DOC 2; Füeg 2.A; SB 1737. Toned, a couple light scratches. EF. Very rare. From the Family of Constantine Collection, assembled with guidance by Roland Michel, Geneva. Ex Triton IV (5 December 2000), lot 828.Alexander, the third son of Basil I, was co-emperor throughout his brother Leo VI's reign, although he took no part in actual governing. Upon Leo's death, he succeeded to the position of senior emperor, ruling alongside Leo VI's young son Constantine VII. Contemporary sources are unanimous in proclaiming Alexander a self-indulgent drunkard, feckless and unfit to rule. In contrast to his brother Leo VI deemed "the wise," Alexander was anything but. He dismissed nearly all of Leo's ministers and generals, whose diplomatic skills had kept the empire relatively stable and prosperous for the previous twenty-five years. He additionally broke a peace treaty with the Bulgarians by refusing to pay tribute upon his accession which prompted a long and destructive war. Alexander also reportedly considered having his nephew (and prospective successor) Constantine castrated in order to end his line out of spite. Ultimately, Alexander was spared witnessing the consequences of his terrible decisions after he reportedly either contracted a stomach ailment or suffered internal bleeding from an injury during a ball game. He died after only a year and a month as senior ruler before he could do further damage to the empire. In his final act of disdain for his successor, Alexander set up a regency council on his deathbed to order to hamper the new ruler Constantine VII. Constantine's mother Zoe was notably excluded from this first regency.Despite Alexander's notorious career as emperor, his very rare gold solidi are notable, however, for featuring a new reverse type for Byzantine coinage. This solidus features Saint Alexander, who is shown crowning the emperor on the reverse. This likely represents Alexander of Constantinople, the first archbishop of the city, who lived during the time of Constantine the Great. The reverse type of the emperor being crowned by a saint (often a namesake) would be adopted in future reigns. Additionally, this series of solidi was the first to feature a saint other than the Theotokos on Byzantine coinage.
Classical Numismatic Group, LLC - Auction 126 - Session 4 . 996
Constantine VII Porphyrogenitus, with Zoe. 913-959. AV Solidus (20mm, 4.38 g, 6h). Constantinople mint. Struck 914-919. Christ Pantokrator enthroned facing, nimbate, raising hand in benediction and holding Gospels / Crowned facing half-length figures of Constantine, wearing chlamys, and Zoe, wearing loros, holding patriarchal cross between them. DOC 2; Füeg 2; SB 1740. Toned, minor deposits. Good VF. From the Family of Constantine Collection, assembled with guidance by Roland Michel, Geneva. Ex Triton IV (5 December 2000), lot 829; Sotheby's New York "An Important Private Collection of Byzantine Coins" (2 November 1998), lot 478; William Herbert Hunt Collection (Sotheby's New York, 5 December 1990), lot 696; Leu 15 (4 May 1976), lot 504.Constantine VII's time as emperor had a very complex path to his eventual sole reign. Following the death of his uncle Alexander, Constantine began his reign under the regency of the Patriarch of Constantinople, Nicolas Mystikos. However, Nicolas' regency was short-lived. After the Tsar of Bulgaria, Symeon, appeared outside Constantinople with a massive army, Nicolas capitulated to the Bulgarians' demands and granted them numerous concessions. This lack of strength by Nicolas led to a palace revolt in which Nicolas' regency was removed and replaced with that of Constantine's mother Zoe Karbonopsina. This change in government led Symeon to invade the Byzantine empire and lay waste to numerous provinces. His destructive campaign was eventually stymied by the capable general Romanus Lecapenus. Upon Romanus' initial victories, he assumed the regency from Zoe, who he forced into a convent. Romanus additionally married his daughter Helena to Constantine. In December of 920, Romanus assumed the title of co-augustus and, though he did not depose Constantine, he kept all the power for himself. Romanus and Symeon continued to war against each other until Symeon's death in 927. Symeon's death seriously diminished the Bulgarians' power and Romanus was free to turn his attention towards matters of state.Between 921 and 945, Romanus elevated three of his sons as co-augustus: Christopher, Stephen, and Constantine. All the while, the former senior augustus Constantine VII was completely sidelined for over thirty years (Romanus officially displaced Constantine as senior augustus around 921). However, matters eventually changed when Stephen and Constantine turned on their father and deposed him in December 944. This was precipitated by Romanus drafting a will in which he intended to leave Constantine VII as sole augusutus following his death. Constantine VII seized his chance and in turn successfully deposed Stephen and Constantine that following January. Finally, in the thirty-first year of his reign, Constantine VII was free of his domineering associates and became sole augustus. Later that year, he added his own son Romanus II as co-augustus. Constantine reigned for an additional fourteen years after he finally deposed the Lecapeni before dying in 959 after reigning for a total of forty-six years.
Classical Numismatic Group, LLC - Auction 126 - Session 4 . 997
Constantine VII Porphyrogenitus, with Romanus I and Christopher. 913-959. AV Solidus (20mm, 4.35 g, 6h). Constantinople mint. Struck 921. Crowned facing figures of Romanus, wearing loros decorated with a cross at end, holding globus cruciger, and Christ, nimbate, crowning Romanus and holding Gospels / Crowned facing busts of Christopher, wearing loros, and Constantine, wearing chlamys, holding long patriarchal cross between them. DOC 5; Füeg 5; SB 1744. Toned, minor doubling on obverse, slightly clipped, some faint hairlines, minor deposits. Near EF. Very rare. From the Family of Constantine Collection, assembled with guidance by Roland Michel, Geneva. Ex Sincona 3 (25 October 2011), lot 3507; Numismatica Ars Classica 56 (8 October 2010), lot 714; Goldberg 53 (24 May 2009), lot 2265; Triton IV (5 December 2000), lot 830; "An Important Private Collection of Byzantine Coins" (Sotheby's New York, 2 November 1998), lot 481; William Herbert Hunt Collection (Sotheby's New York, 5 December 1990), lot 698; Leu 15 (4 May 1976), lot 508.
Classical Numismatic Group, LLC - Auction 126 - Session 4 . 998
Constantine VII Porphyrogenitus, with Romanus I and Christopher. 913-959. AV Solidus (20mm, 4.34 g, 6h). Constantinople mint. Struck 921-931. Christ Pantokrator enthroned facing on suppedion, nimbate, raising hand in benediction and holding Gospels / Crowned facing busts of Romanus, wearing loros, and Christopher, wearing chlamys, holding long patriarchal cross between them. DOC 7; Füeg 7.B; SB 1745. Toned, graffito under tone, edge mark. Near EF. From the Family of Constantine Collection, assembled with guidance by Roland Michel, Geneva.
Classical Numismatic Group, LLC - Auction 126 - Session 4 . 999
Constantine VII Porphyrogenitus, with Romanus I. 913-959. AV Solidus (20mm, 4.35 g, 6h). Constantinople mint. Struck 931-944. Christ Pantokrator enthroned facing on suppedion, nimbate, raising hand in benediction and holding Gospels / Constantine, wearing crown and chlamys decorated with cross, and Romanus, wearing crown and loros decorated with cross at end, standing facing on suppedion, both holding globus cruciger and patriarchal cross between them. DOC 10; Füeg 10.2.2; SB 1749 (Constantine VII and Romanus II). Toned, light scrape, light cleaning scratches, minor marks. Good VF. From the Family of Constantine Collection, assembled with guidance by Roland Michel, Geneva.
Classical Numismatic Group, LLC - Auction 126 - Session 4 . 1000
Constantine VII Porphyrogenitus. 913-959. AV Solidus (20mm, 4.38 g, 6h). Constantinople mint. Struck January-April 945. Nimbate facing bust of Christ Pantokrator, raising hand in benediction and holding Gospels / Crowned facing bust of Constantine VII, wearing ornate jeweled loros, holding patriarchal globus cruciger. DOC 13b; Füeg 13.A.2.2; SB 1747. Lightly toned, minor edge marks. Good VF. Very rare. From the Family of Constantine Collection, assembled with guidance by Roland Michel, Geneva. Ex Gorny & Mosch 125 (13 October 2003), lot 620.This sole reign solidus was struck during the very brief period from January to April 945 when Constantine reigned without any associates after deposing his two domineering brothers-in-law on 27 January and before he added his son Romanus II as co-augustus on 6 April.
Classical Numismatic Group, LLC - Auction 126 - Session 4 . 1001
Constantine VII Porphyrogenitus, with Romanus II. 913-959. AV Solidus (19.5mm, 4.37 g, 6h). Constantinople mint. Struck 945-959. Nimbate facing bust of Christ Pantokrator, raising hand in benediction and holding Gospels; three pellets in each arm of nimbus / Crowned facing busts of Constantine, wearing loros, and Romanus, wearing chlamys, together holding patriarchal cross between them. DOC 15; Füeg 15.D; SB 1751. Toned, a few scratches mostly under tone. Good VF. From the Family of Constantine Collection, assembled with guidance by Roland Michel, Geneva.
Classical Numismatic Group, LLC - Auction 126 - Session 4 . 1002
Nicephorus II Phocas. 963-969. AV Histamenon Nomisma (19mm, 4.11 g, 6h). Constantinople mint. Nimbate facing bust of Christ Pantokrator, raising hand in benediction and holding Gospels / Facing half-length busts of the Theotokos and Nicephorus, wearing crown and loros, holding patriarchal cross between them. DOC 4; Füeg 3.A.3; SB 1778. Lightly toned, obverse die breaks, clipped, edge marks. Good VF. From the Family of Constantine Collection, assembled with guidance by Roland Michel, Geneva.
Classical Numismatic Group, LLC - Auction 126 - Session 4 . 1003
John I Zimisces. 969-976. AV Histamenon Nomisma (21.5mm, 4.37 g, 6h). Constantinople mint. Nimbate facing bust of Christ Pantokrator, raising hand in benediction and holding Gospels / Crowned facing half-length bust of John, holding long patriarchal cross and being crowned by the Theotokos to right; manus Dei to upper left. DOC 6a; Füeg 3.A.3; SB 1778. Toned, deposits. Near EF. From the Family of Constantine Collection, assembled with guidance by Roland Michel, Geneva.
Classical Numismatic Group, LLC - Auction 126 - Session 4 . 1004
Basil II Bulgaroktonos, with Constantine VIII. 976-1025. AV Histamenon Nomisma (21mm, 4.10 g, 6h). Constantinople mint. Struck 977-circa 989. Nimbate facing bust of Christ Pantokrator, raising hand in benediction and holding Gospels; pellet-in-annulet in each arm of nimbus cross / Crowned facing busts of Basil, wearing loros, and Constantine, wearing chlamys, holding patriarchal cross between them; small crossbar on shaft. DOC 2j.1-2; Füeg II 2.J; SB 1796. Toned, obverse metal flaw, edge filing. VF. From the Family of Constantine Collection, assembled with guidance by Roland Michel, Geneva.
Classical Numismatic Group, LLC - Auction 126 - Session 4 . 1005
Constantine VIII. 1025-1028. AV Histamenon Nomisma (25.5mm, 4.41 g, 6h). Constantinople mint. Nimbate facing bust of Christ Pantokrator, raising hand in benediction and holding Gospels; upturned crescents in upper two quarters of nimbus / Crowned facing bust of Constantine, wearing jeweled loros, holding labarum and akakia. DOC 1; Füeg II 1.A.6; SB 1815; Berk, Roman 292B (this coin). Toned, a few light scratches, minor deposits. EF. From the Family of Constantine Collection, assembled with guidance by Roland Michel, Geneva. Ex Jürgen K. Schmidt Collection (Triton V, 15 January 2002), lot 2302; "An Important Private Collection of Byzantine Coins" (Sotheby's New York, 2 November 1998), lot 507.
Classical Numismatic Group, LLC - Auction 126 - Session 4 . 1006
Romanus III Argyrus. 1028-1034. AV Histamenon Nomisma (24.5mm, 4.39 g, 6h). Constantinople mint. Christ Pantokrator enthroned facing on suppedion, nimbate, raising hand in benediction and holding Gospels / Romanus, placing hand on chest and holding globus cruciger, standing facing, being crowned and blessed by the Theotokos, nimbate; four pellets in loros end; M Θ, both with macron above, in upper field. DOC 1d; Füeg II 1.D.4.y; SB 1819. Toned. Near EF. From the Family of Constantine Collection, assembled with guidance by Roland Michel, Geneva.
Classical Numismatic Group, LLC - Auction 126 - Session 4 . 1007
Michael IV the Paphlagonian. 1034-1041. AV Histamenon Nomisma (25.5mm, 4.41 g, 6h). Constantinople mint. Nimbate facing bust of Christ Pantokrator, raising hand in benediction and holding Gospels / Crowned facing bust of Michael, wearing jeweled loros, holding labarum and globus cruciger, being crowned by manus Dei above. DOC 1d; Füeg II 1.C.1 (this coin illustrated); SB 1824. Attractively toned, a couple of minor scratches under tone. EF. From the Family of Constantine Collection, assembled with guidance by Roland Michel, Geneva. Ex Jürgen K. Schmidt Collection (Triton V, 16 January 2002), lot 2305; Leu 65 (21 May 1996), lot 611.
Classical Numismatic Group, LLC - Auction 126 - Session 4 . 1008
Constantine IX Monomachus. 1042-1055. AV Histamenon Nomisma (28.5mm, 4.38 g, 6h). Constantinople mint. Christ Pantokrator enthroned facing on suppedion, nimbate, raising hand in benediction and holding Gospels / Crowned facing bust of Constantine, wearing loros, holding labarum and globus cruciger. DOC 2a; Füeg II 2.A; SB 1829. Toned and lustrous, scratch at reverse periphery. EF. From the Family of Constantine Collection, assembled with guidance by Roland Michel, Geneva.
Classical Numismatic Group, LLC - Auction 126 - Session 4 . 1009
Theodora. 1055-1056. AV Histamenon Nomisma (23.5mm, 4.42 g, 6h). Constantinople mint. Christ Pantokrator standing facing on suppedion, nimbate; one pellet in bars of nimbus / Theodora, wearing crown and loros decorated with cross, and the Theotokos standing facing, holding between them a labarum on long staff with pellet on shaft and beneath. DOC 1a; Füeg II 1.A; SB 1837. Toned with some luster, light reverse die rust, minor scratches and marks. Good VF. From the Family of Constantine Collection, assembled with guidance by Roland Michel, Geneva.
Classical Numismatic Group, LLC - Auction 126 - Session 4 . 1010
Michael VI Stratioticus. 1056-1057. AV Histamenon Nomisma (24mm, 4.37 g, 6h). Constantinople mint. Nimbate facing bust of Christ Pantokrator, raising right hand in benediction and holding Gospels in left; (squares) in quarters of nimbus / Michael standing facing, wearing crown and jeweled chlamys, resting hand on chest and holding globus cruciger, being crowned by the Theotokos, nimbate, to right; M Θ, both with macron above between. DOC 1b; Füeg II 1.B; SB 1840. Toned, minor marks and scratches, edge marks, light deposits. EF. Very rare. From the Family of Constantine Collection, assembled with guidance by Roland Michel, Geneva. Ex Peus 376 (29 October 2003), lot 1210; Peus 361 (3 November 1999), lot 740; Giessener Münzhandlung 76 (22 April 1996), lot 651.