The Byzantines thought that people with physical mutilations could not rule the empire. So, deposed emperors often had nasty things done to them so they theoretically couldn't return to rule again. This only sometimes included execution. Then, as if to prove the theory wrong, Justinian II had his nose slit in 695 and returned to the throne in 705. Much later, Isaac II Angelus was blinded in 1195, but ended up returning to the throne in 1203. So much for the mutilation theory. The tetarteron below dates from Isaac II's first reign from 1185 to 1195. Isaac II Angelus (1185-1195), Æ Tetarteron; Thessalonica; Obv: Half-length bust of archangel Michael facing, holding sceptre and globus cruciger; Rev: ICA/AK/IOC-ΔEC/ΠO/THC. Half-length bust of Isaac facing, holding cruciform sceptre and akakia; 18.5-20mm., 2.84g.; Sommer 65.7, Sear 2005.
Very cool coin! I only have a handful of Byzantine coins but I'm always on the lookout for any that speak to me, I would love to have something like that in my collection!
