Byzantine Emperor 1185-1195 Billon AE 1/2 ? Trachy 31mm 1 Gmail.59 Virgin w/lcon enthroned face bho.../oc RX Isaac stg.face., collar w.9 jewels; at r. AE•HG. At least that’s the description on the package that this coin was in. Another bowl shaped with a large split. It’s actually still attached but with an elongated hole very close to the split. Difficult to photograph and see with the dark brown on the coin. But it’s nice in hand.
Isaac II Angelus (1185-95 A.D.) Billon Aspron Trachy O: MP ThV, The Virgin seated on a throne, facing. She holds a nimbate head of the infant Christ facing. R: I/CAA/KI/OC DEC/PO/TH/C, Isaac standing facing, holding a cruciform scepter and akakia. Constantinople mint, 1185 - 1195 A.D. 4.93g SB 2003, BMC 19-31.
These trachy are very delicate, very hard to find in good condition. Isaakios Komnenos Angelos - Isaacus II Angelos - Byzantine Emperor from 1185 to 1195 (First Reign), and again from 1203 to 1204 (Second Reign). Electrum Aspron Trachy, First Reign Constantinople, 12 Sep 1185 - 8 Apr 1195 AD 4.121 g Sear 2002; Sommer 65.4.3; DOC 2a; Ratto 2178-2179; BMC/B.12 Ob.: MP-ΘV (Abbreviation For "Meter Tou Theou" Greek For "Mother Of God"), Virgin enthroned facing, nimbate, wears pallium and maphorium, holding nimbate head of infant Christ Rv.: ICAAKIOC ∆; Θ (between heads), X/AP/X/M (on r.), Archangel Michael, standing nimbate on right in military attire, scepter in l. hand, crowing Isaacus with r. hand; Isaacus standing on left wearing divitsion and chlamys; cruciform scepter in left, akakia in right hand
I have just one of this ruler: Isaac II Angelus, 1185-1195 AD, AE Tetarteron. Thessalonica mint. Obv.: Bust of archangel Michael, facing, nimbate, holding jeweled scepter and globus-cruciger; O X AP-X MI (or similar). Rev.: Bust of Isaac, crowned, bearded, wearing loros, holding cruciform scepter and akakia; ICA AKI OC ΔE CΠO TH C (or similar). Weight: 4.0 gr. Diam. 23 mm. (Oblong flan.) Attrib.: Sear 2005 Here's a quote from Wikipedia about this ruler: "Isaac has the reputation of one of the most unsuccessful princes that occupied the Byzantine throne. Surrounded by a crowd of slaves, mistresses and flatterers, he permitted his empire to be administered by unworthy favorites, while he squandered the money wrung from his provinces on costly buildings and expensive gifts to the churches of his metropolis."
