Recently, one of the things I've been on the lookout for is a coin of Constantine IV, because, for all the years I've been collecting Byzantine, I've never made a serious effort to get a coin of him. Not that I was attracted by anything about him personally; I didn't have him and I have a strong like for scarce/rare late Roman and Byzantine rulers. He is scarce as sole ruler but more common on coins of Constans II, standing alongside his father or brothers. Retail-wise, Constantine IV coins start out at around $35-40 in typical "Byzantine condition", as I like to call it (here's a Vcoins search of his folles). I was browsing the bottom recently on eBay as I usually do from time-to-time, and I found the coin shown. It was unidentified by the seller. I'm not an expert on 7th century Byzantine coinage but I knew this couldn't be Constans II since there was no Santa beard, and the bust on this coin has long loose hair (instead of the "swept-back" hairstyle Constans has). Seller's scan photos were pretty bad but it was only $13 shipped and I felt pretty confident that it was Constantine IV, so I went for it. Not often nowadays that I find scarce/rare coins unidentified by the seller, but it certainly feels good when I do. Constantine IV, Byzantine Empire AE follis Obv: Helemeted, cuirassed bust facing, holding cross on globe Rev: Large M, Heraclius standing on left holding cross on globe , Tiberius standing on right holding cross on globe, monogram above Mint: Syracuse Date: 668-685 AD Ref: SB 1207 Facts about Constantine IV: - Born in 652 and died in 685. - He put down the revolt in Sicily that had killed his father Constans II. - The Arab Caliphate began a multi-year campaign against him when they were "invited" by a rebellious commander looking to overthrow Constantine. During this time the Slavs also went to war with the Byzantines. - In 674, the Arabs laid siege to Constantinople itself. Just before, Constantine had the city prepared, and had ships outfitted to be able to shoot fire. This made the siege the first time Greek fire was used in combat. After a few years, the Arabs were unable to take the city and so the siege was lifted. - During Constantine's reign, a religious controversy was occurring. The Christian church in the Byzantine Empire was divided between support for Orthodoxy and Monothelitism (they differed over the divine and human aspects of Jesus). Constantine convened the Third Council of Constantinople in 681, in which Monothelitism was declared as heretical. - In addition to his wars with the Arabs and Slavs, Constantine also fought against the Lombards in Italy and the Bulgars in Moesia. The Lombards held most of Italy, and the Bulgars achieved a decisive victory in 680 that led to the establishment of the first Bulgarian state. - In 681, Constantine, feeling threatened by his brothers Heraclius and Tiberius, stripped them of their titles and powers and had them mutilated. A campaign of damnatio memoriae was carried out as well. - In 685, Constantine contracted dysentary and died as a result. He was succeeded by his son Justinian II. Byzantine Empire and surrounding areas in 700 AD (couldn't find a map that corresponded to Constantine's reign, although the borders of the empire probably didn't change much during this frame of time). Constantine IV depicted on a mosaic from Ravenna (photo from Flickr) Feel free to share anything relevant and/or your bottom feeder bargains!
Great catch!! He is a must-have, for sure. I've been blown out of the water on a few of his awesome large folles from Constantinople, but do have a Constantinople decanummium (cute portrait) and a follis from Syracuse. The Syracusan follis has his unfortunate brothers on the reverse.
I have a flake of gold from Constantine IV. It was in a large-ish lot of Byzantine coins from a very frustrating G&M auction six years ago. On this coin he looks like Mick Jagger's ancestor . Constantine IV, 668-685 CE AV tremissis, 1.4 gm, 17 mm Constantinople mint Obv: DN CONSTANTINUS PPAG; Pearl-diademed, draped, and cuirassed bust right Rev: VICTORIA AVGUS; cross potent; CONOB Ref: SB 1162
Love both, especially the follis. There's a decanummium of him I'm looking at right now. Price is about right for it but I'm saving cash for FUN in July, so the temptation to buy it (and a few other coins I'm watching) is very real .
The majority of my small Byzantine "collection" came from that group lot. All but a couple on my website are from that lot, although I have a few other random Byzantines not on the website (nothing particularly notable). One of the coins now belongs to @BenSi. I haven't updated the site since well before the hurricanes. At this rate, it may be next year before I have the time and energy!
I happily have that coin in my main collection now. As for the others not being notable that's Not so true, you also have a very attractive semi tetarteron from Alexius III, the coin is rarely seen. https://www.tifcollection.com/sb2016-alexius-iii-half-tetarteron I have only seen two other examples in the last twenty years. the scarcity of the coin is believed to be the result of inflation making it obsolete.
