Well, since i got the Romanus Follis, i thought I might as well get 3 more from the reign of Constantine VII and an attempt at a story too In 913 AD as the Emperor Alexander was dying he appointed a 7 regent council for the future emperor Constantine VII (born in 905) led by the Ecumenical Patriarch of Constantinople, Nicholas Mystikos After Alexander died the Patriarch Nicholas expells Constantine’s mother Zoe from the imperial palace and forces her to join a monastery…. John Skylitzes the Byzantine historian says that “ The emperor Constantine was constantly complaining and calling for his mommy so they brought her back in, against their better judgement. Once she was in she seized the reigns of government”.. The regents were expelled and Zoe put herself and her son on the Folles for the next for the next few years.(below) Constantine VII Porphyrogenitus, with Zoe. 913-959. Æ Follis. Constantinople mint. Struck 914-919. Crowned half-length figures of Constantine, wearing loros, and Zoe, wearing chlamys, holding patriarchal cross between / + COҺS / TAҺTIҺO’ / CЄ ZOH ЬA / SILIS RO / MEOҺ in five lines. DOC 22; SB 1758. …However, apparently some people did not think Zoe was doing a good job and eventually the droungarios of the fleet Romanus Lekapenos came to power and expelled Zoe to a monastery and even let Constantine VII live and remain emperor and for a while he was still featured on the bronze folles, although only for a short time, ((SB 1759) the only Constantine VII bronze coin I am currently missing) and by 920 Romanus had himself declared Senior emperor and began to strike folles with his own image (below) Constantine VII Porphyrogenitus, with Romanus I. 913-959. Æ Follis (27mm, 9.32 g, 6h). Constantinople mint. Struck (920-944). Crowned bust of Romanus I facing, holding labarum and globus cruciger / Legend in four lines. DOC 25a; SB 1760. VF, brown patina with earthen highlights/deposits. From the Prue Morgan Fitts Collection. ex CNG coins Illustrated in Prue Morgan Fitts’ book, The Beginner's Guide to Identifying Byzantine Coins (London, Spink, 2015). over struck on SB 1729 By 943 Romanus, figured his two sons would not be very good emperors and declares that Constantine VII should have precedence over his own two sons Stephen and Constantine… they apparently didn’t like this and in 944 overthrew their father and put him into a monastery, but apparently they didn’t realize that they were not very popular and the people of Constantinople revolted, and Constantine VII put both of them into monasteries like they had done to their own father. Constantine VII, after 31 long years of waiting was finally sole emperor and was able to place his own face and name on the bronze coins, but rather than producing new flans for his new coins, he just took all the folles of Romanus and struck his own face over them (very disrespectful). Constantine VII Porphyrogenitus. 913-959. Æ Follis. Constantinople mint. Struck 945-circa 950. Crowned facing bust, wearing loros and holding akakia and globus cruciger / + COҺST’/ ЄҺ ӨЄO ЬA / SILЄVS R / OMЄOҺ in four lines. DOC 26; SB 1761. over struck on SB 1760 But about 5 years later Constantine's son Romanus II apparently convinced his father to allow him to appear alongside him on the folles and kept striking over Romanus's coins Constantine VII and Romanus II (945-959), Follis, Constantinople, c. AD 950-959 , facing bust, Costantine VII bearded, Romanus II beardless, smaller, wearing loros and crown with cross, holding globe surmounted by patriarcheal cross, Rv. DOC 27 SB 1762. also overstruck on SB 1760 ex Pecunem auction (unsold) Constantine VII died in 959
Nice collection of family portraits. Here's the only one I have from this ruler. Constantine VII and Zoe, 913-959 CE. Æ Follis (23.7 mm, 5.15 g). Constantinople mint. Struck 914 - 919 CE. Obv: +CONSTANT CE ZO Hb, Facing busts of Constantine, wearing loros, and Zoe, clad in chlamys, both crowned and holding long cross between them. Rev: +CONS/TANTINO/ CE ZOH bA/SILIS RO/MEON. Sear 1758; Berk 928; DOC 22.
That is a popular misconception my friend, and it is based on outdated works from around 1700’s where approach to history or humanistic studies were not what it is today. Just because it struck as a popular misconception onwards doesn’t mean it is fact. Abraham Lincoln was not a radical abolitionist and did not free the slaves. Vikings did not have horns onto their helmets as no primary sources mention it nor does archeological evidence support such a view. People in Middle Ages did not believe that the earth was flat as they already knew it was spherical. And Byzantine Empire was certainly not specifically more intrigues than other. Sulla and Marius have their intrigues, so did Julius Caser as he was stabbed. Octavian fought Marcus Antonio. And when Octavian turned into Augustus and the era of Roman Empire started it was not an end of intrigues as countless intrigues, killings, poisons, fratricide, perverted sexual approach followed in the first and second centuries. The Chinese, Japanese, Spaniards, Inca, Arabs, Tuks, Vikings, Britons, renaissance Italy all basically have intrigues as well just as much or little as Byzantine. Note that the Roman Empire that ruled from Constantinople after all survived for not only 100 years, or 400 years, or 600 years but for over 1100 years. It was Europe's and Eurasia’s most stable state throughout Middle Ages.
I have some as well (of course). My infant Constantine VII has both his eyes visible and Zoe does have her right one. I wanted some persons on my coins with two X chromosomes(women). I already had Sophia during Justin II’s reign but I also wanted one woman from the second part of Byzantium history, so thus this coin from the fantastic Macedonian Dynasty: My Romanos Lecapenus here, well graded but not as nice as Arnoldoe’s: And a Cherson minted one here apparently minted during the reign of Romanus I or one of his son. Sear 1764. I bought that for 8 pund. It is low graded, but I don’t want to pay 50Euro just for a coin with “P” and “W”. And then a Solidus of Romanus I with Christopher: Obverse: ROMAҺ' ЄT XRISTOFO' AYGG Ь'. Crowned facing busts of Romanus I, wearing loros, and Christopher, wearing chlamys, holding patriarchal cross between them. Reverse: + IҺS XPS RЄX RЄGNANTIYM ✷. Christ seated facing on throne, raising hand in benediction and holding Gospels. Sear 1745 Weight: 4,25g and size: 20mm. Rex Regnantium here from Hagia Sofia:
nice run of coins arnoldoe, and everyone else. I have several byzantine coins, but the 10th century is a gaping hole in my collection.
Thanks for the comments, and as for the only coin i am missing, It was supposedly quite common 20-30 years ago, but now i am only able to find a handful of examples online.. making the conclusions of the DOC catalog now seem pretty unlikely. + and is also the unique follis of Christopher, which may or may not be a fake.
