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Byzantine Empire, Constantine VII, 11 May 912 - 9 November 959
Joint rule under Alexander (his uncle), 11 May 912 - 6 June 913 Under regent Patriarch Nicholas Mysticus, 6 June 913 - February 914 Under regent Zoe (his mother), February 914 - 919 Under regent Romanus I (his father-in-law), 919 - 17 December 920 Joint rule under Romanus I (his father-in-law), 17 December 920 - 20 May 921 Joint rule under Romanus I (his father-in-law), with Christopher (Romanus' son), 20 May 921 - 25 December 924 Joint rule under Romanus I (his father-in-law) and Christopher, with Stephen and Constantine (Romanus' sons), 25 December 924 - August 931 Joint rule under Romanus I (his father-in-law) with Stephen and Constantine (Romanus' sons), August 931 - 16 December 944 Joint rule with Stephen and Constantine (Romanus' sons), 16 December 944 - 27 January 945 Sole rule, 27 January 945 - 6 April 945 Joint rule as senior emperor with Romanus II (his son), 6 April 945 - 9 November 959
Constantine VII was a minor when his uncle, Alexander, died leaving him as sole emperor. Constantine's mother, Zoe, soon took control. However after Zoe failed to halt a growing Bulgarian threat, the regency passed to Romanus I Lecapenus, commander of the fleet, a much more able leader. Constantine was not allowed to take part in government and his regent Romanus I was made co-emperor in 920 A.D. Romanus I was deposed by his own sons who wanted the throne but instead Constantine VII took control. Finally, in 945 when he was 40 years old, he had real power. Later that year he made Romanus II, his son and grandson of Romanus I, his co-emperor. Romanus II outlived his father and ruled alone for only three years.
Byzantine Empire, Romanus II (Sole Reign?), 959 - 963 A.D.
The intentionally obliterated legend on the reverse is thought to indicate the sole reign of Romanus II. Perhaps the Byzantine mint received no instructions from the incompetent new regime and resorted to this stopgap expedient pending further directives.SH35841. Gold solidus, Füeg SNR 76, pl. IV, B4; cf. DOC III Constantine VII 15.22; Sommer 37.1, aEF, weight 4.346 g, maximum diameter 20.3 mm, die axis 180o, Constantinople (Istanbul, Turkey) mint, obverse +IhS XPS REX REGNANTIVM', bust of Christ facing with nimbus cruciger, tunic and himation, right raised in blessing, gospels in left; reverse CONSTANT CE ROMAN AUGG b R (partially obliterated), crowned facing busts of Constantine VII (left) in loros and Romanus in chlamys, holding long patriarchal cross between them; fabulous style, one of the nicest we have handled of the type; very rare; SOLD
Byzantine Empire, Constantine VII and Romanus II, 6 April 945 - 9 November 959 A.D.
A very popular type depicting Christ wearing a pallium, a very rich, rectangular hem length, jeweled court garment and a colobium, a sleeveless outer tunic. This coin has no pellets or lines in the limbs of the cross within the nimbus. We did not find a single undecorated cross in our references or online.SH58611. Gold solidus, apparently an unpublished variety; DOC III-2 15 var. (pellets in nimbus arms); SBCV 1751 var. (same), Morrisson BnF 15 ff. var. (same), Choice VF, weight 4.405 g, maximum diameter 19.3 mm, die axis 180o, Constantinople (Istanbul, Turkey) mint, obverse +Ihs XPS REX REGNANTIUM, bust of Christ facing wearing nimbus cruciger, pallium, and colobium, raising right in benediction, Gospels in left; no pellets or lines in limbs of cross; reverse COnSTAnT' CE ROMAN' AVGG BR, crowned facing busts of Constantine VII, in a loros on left, and his son Romanus II, in a chlamys, they hold a long patriarchal cross; ex Forum (2008), attractive bust of Christ, nicely centered; rare; SOLD
Byzantine Empire, Romanus II (Sole Reign?), 959 - 963 A.D.
This type with the obliterated reverse legend has been attributed as an emergency issue struck at the beginning of Romanus' sole reign. David Sear notes, "Perhaps the Byzantine mint had received no clear instructions from the new regime and simply resorted to this stopgap expedient pending further directives from the palace.SH35837. Gold solidus, Füeg SNR 76, pl. IV, B4; cf. DOC III Constantine VII 15.22, aEF, weight 4.370 g, maximum diameter 21.0 mm, die axis 180o, Constantinople (Istanbul, Turkey) mint, Sole Reign?; obverse + IhS XPS REX REGNANTIVM, bust of Christ facing with nimbus cruciger, tunic and himation, right raised in blessing, gospels in left; reverse CONSTANT CE ROMAN AUGG b R (partially obliterated), crowned facing busts of Constantine VII (left) in loros and Romanus in chlamys, holding long patriarchal cross between them; nice portrait of Christ; very rare; SOLD
Byzantine Empire, Constantine VII and Romanus II, 6 April 945 - 9 November 959 A.D.
A very popular type depicting Christ wearing a pallium, a very rich, rectangular hem length, jeweled court garment and a colobium, a sleeveless outer tunic.SH83910. Gold solidus, DOC III-2 15, Wroth BMC 60, Morrisson BnF 37/Cp/AV/15l Ratto 1905, Berk Gold 278, SBCV 1751, Sommer 36.9, VF, clipped, uncleaned, scratches, weight 4.054 g, maximum diameter 20.9 mm, die axis 180o, Constantinople (Istanbul, Turkey) mint, 6 Apr 945 - 9 Nov 959 A.D.; obverse +Ihs XPS REX REGNANTIUM, bust of Christ facing wearing nimbus cruciger, pallium, and colobium, raising right in benediction, Gospels in left, three pellets in each limb of the cross; reverse COnSTAnT' CE ROMAN' AVGG BR, crowned facing busts of Constantine VII, in a loros on left, and his son Romanus II, in a chlamys, they hold a long patriarchal cross; from the Robert Wachter Collection, ex Clark Smith; SOLD
Byzantine Empire, Constantine VII and Romanus II, 6 April 945 - 9 November 959 A.D.
A very popular type depicting Christ wearing a pallium, a very rich, rectangular hem length, jeweled court garment and a colobium, a sleeveless outer tunic.SH94409. Gold solidus, DOC III-2 15.23; Wroth BMC 60, Morrisson BnF 37/Cp/AV/15; Ratto 1905; Berk Gold 278; SBCV 1751; Sommer 36.9, aVF, well centered with full legends, flow lines, die wear, light scrape, scratches, weight 4.288 g, maximum diameter 20.1 mm, die axis 180o, Constantinople (Istanbul, Turkey) mint, 6 Apr 945 - 9 Nov 959 A.D.; obverse +Ihs XPS REX REGNANTIUM, bust of Christ facing wearing nimbus cruciger, pallium, and colobium, raising right in benediction, Gospels in left, cross with double lines and three pellets in each limb; reverse COnSTAnT' CE ROMAN' AVGG BR, crowned facing busts of Constantine VII, in a loros on left, and his son Romanus II, in a chlamys, together they hold a long patriarchal cross between them; SOLD
Byzantine Empire, Constantine VII and Romanus II, 6 April 945 - 9 November 959 A.D.
The X following the obverse legend appears to be unpublished but one other specimen, with the X undescribed, is known from auction records. Another less rare variety with a paisley-shaped (floral?) ornament at the end of the obverse legend is also unpublished in references but known from auctions.SH89539. Gold solidus, DOC III-2 15 var.; Morrisson BnF 37/Cp/AV/22 var.; Wroth BMC 60 var., SBCV 1751 var.; Sommer 36.9 var. (none with X at end of obv. leg.), F, clipped flan, graffiti obverse right field, weight 4.065 g, maximum diameter 18.9 mm, die axis 180o, Constantinople (Istanbul, Turkey) mint, 6 Apr 945 - 9 Nov 959 A.D.; obverse +Ihs XPS REX REGNANTIum X, bust of Christ facing wearing nimbus cruciger, pallium, and colobium, raising right in benediction, Gospels in left, three pellets in each limb of the cross; reverse COnSTAnT' CE ROmAn' AyGG BR, crowned facing busts of Constantine VII, in a loros on left, and his son Romanus II, in a chlamys, they hold a long patriarchal cross; from the Robert Wachter Collection; extremely rare variant; SOLD
Byzantine Anonymous Follis of Christ, Class A3, Basil II & Constantine VIII, c. 1023 - 11 November 1028 A.D.
The emperor's name and portrait are not part of the design on the Byzantine types referred to as anonymous folles. Instead of the earthly king, these coins depict Jesus Christ, King of Kings.SH82754. Bronze anonymous follis, Anonymous follis of Christ class A3; Grierson-NumisWiki ornaments 24a; DOC III-2 A2.24a; SBCV 1818; Sommer 40.3.8, EF, much mint luster, areas with porosity and light encrustation, weight 10.950 g, maximum diameter 27.5 mm, die axis 180o, Constantinople (Istanbul, Turkey) mint, c. 1023 - 11 Nov 1028 A.D.; obverse + EMMANOVHΛ (romanized Hebrew - God is with us), facing bust of Christ, wearing nimbus cruciger with two pellets in each limb of cross, pallium, and colobium, holding gospels with both hands, gospels ornamented with two pellets within a jeweled border, to left IC, to right XC; reverse + IhSuS / XRISTuS / bASILEu / bASILE (Greek: Jesus Christ King of Kings), ornamentation above and below inscription; SOLD
Byzantine Empire, Constantine VII and Zoe, 914 - 919 A.D.
Constantine VII was a minor when his uncle, Alexander, died leaving him as emperor. Constantine's mother, Zoe, soon took control. However after Zoe failed to halt a growing Bulgarian threat, the regency passed to Romanus I Lecapenus, commander of the fleet, a much more able leader.SH62573. Bronze follis, DOC III-2 22; Sommer 36.14; Wroth BMC 1; Morrisson BnF 37/Cp/AE/1; Ratto 1883; SBCV 1758, gVF, sharp, well centered on a tight flan, weight 4.821 g, maximum diameter 23.6 mm, die axis 180o, Constantinople (Istanbul, Turkey) mint, 914 - 919 A.D.; obverse + COnStAnt' CE ZOH b' (Constantine and Zoe, Rulers of the Roman People), Constantine VII facing, beardless, wearing loros and crown with cross, holding long patriarchal cross with Zoe, wearing crown and chlamys; reverse + COnSt/tAntino' / CE ZOH bA/SILIS Ro/meon (Constantine and Zoe, Rulers of the Roman People) in five lines; SOLD
Byzantine Empire, Constantine VII and Romanus I Lecapenus, 17 December 920 - 16 December 944 A.D.
Constantine VII became sole emperor while he was a minor. He was dominated by his regents and was not allowed to take part in government. His regent Romanus I was made co-emperor in 920. In 945 Romanus I was deposed by his sons who wanted the throne. Instead Constantine VII took control. Finally, when he was 40 years old, he had sole rule and real power.BZ84548. Bronze follis, DOC III-2 25; Sommer 36.16; Morrisson BnF 37/Cp/AE/31; Wroth BMC 14; Ratto 1886; SBCV 1760, gVF, nice dark blue-green patina, weight 8.712 g, maximum diameter 27.2 mm, die axis 180o, Constantinople (Istanbul, Turkey) mint, 920 - 16 Dec 944 A.D.; obverse RWmAn' bASILEVS RWM' (or similar), Romanus I facing, bearded, wearing jeweled chlamys and crown with cross, globus cruciger in left, transverse labarum in right; reverse RWMA/n' En ΘEW bA/SILEVS RW/mAIWn in four lines; ex Numismatik Naumann GmbH auction 42 (3 Apr 2016), lot 1070; SOLD
Byzantine Empire, Constantine VII and Romanus II, 6 April 945 - 9 November 959 A.D.
In the reverse legend, Constantine includes the epithet Porphyrogenitus, meaning "born in the purple," to emphasis the legitimate nature of his rule after the usurpation of the Lecapenus family.BZ89544. Silver miliaresion, DOC III, part 2, 21, SBCV 1757, Morrisson BnF 37/Cp/Ar/10, Wroth BMC 67, Ratto 1906, Sommer 36.13, VF, well centered, old collection toning, bumps and scratches, holed, weight 2.749 g, maximum diameter 24.2 mm, die axis 0o, Constantinople (Istanbul, Turkey) mint, 6 Apr 945 - 9 Nov 959 A.D.; obverse IhSuS XRISTuS nICA (Jesus Christ conquers), Cross crosslet set on three steps, saltire cross at center, globus below, triple border of dots with 16 evenly spaced globules; reverse +COhST'T' / ΠORFVROΓ' / CE ROMAhO / Eh X'w EVSEL' / b' RwMEOh in five lines, triple border of dots with 16 evenly spaced globules; from the Robert Watcher Collection; scarce; SOLD
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