Here is a Byzantine coin of Leo IV, The Khazar, 775-780. 24-23 mm. 4.78 grams. Leo IV and Constantine VI (on the right) facing on a double throne Leo III and Constantine V (on the right) each in loros, half length, above large M with X [obscured by corrosion] to left and N to right. Struck 776-780. Sear 1587. Grierson 695. Given this type has no legend, I wondered how the rulers were identified. Then I saw there is a solidus (Sear 1584) with legends identifying the rulers, with exactly the same obverse design, including the unusual throne, and same reverse design, except for the rulers only and not the part below the line. Constantine VI was his son and heir. Leo III was his grandfather and Constantine V his father. So, four generations of rulers are on one coin.
That is a great coin! That design is one of the better ones that was issued around this time. Those coins are very difficult to find in good condition as the flan is usually smaller than the die. The bigger coins, like this one, are usually better. Here are mine: Byzantine Empire: Leo IV the Khazar (775-780) Æ Follis, Constantinople (Sear 1586; DOC 4) Obv: Crowned facing busts of Leo IV and Constantine VI, each wearing chlamys; cross in field above Rev: Crowned facing busts of Leo III and Constantine V each wearing loros, set on horizontal bar; B A across field; below, M above A, flanked by X and N Byzantine Empire: Leo IV the Khazar (775-780) Æ Follis, Constantinople (Sear 1587; DOC 6.5-6.6) Obv: Leo IV and Constantine VI, both wearing crown and chlamys, seated facing on a double throne with curved arms; cross in field above Rev: Crowned facing busts of Leo III and Constantine V, both wearing loros, set on horizontal bar; cross in field above, two pellets to left, three pellets to right; below, MA, flanked by X and N Dim: 24 mm, 4.61 g, 6 h Byzantine Empire: Leo IV the Khazar (775-780) Æ Follis, Syracuse (Sear-1590) Obv: Crowned facing busts of Leo IV and Constantine VI, each wearing chlamys; cross in field above Rev: Crowned facing busts of Leo III and Constantine V each wearing loros, set on horizontal bar; CIK' in exergue
BTW, its gets a bit more crowded with Constantine VI: Byzantine Empire: Constantine VI & Irene (780-797) Æ Follis, Constantinople (Sear 1596; DOC III.6) Obv: Crowned facing busts of Constantine VI and Irene, holding globus cruciger and cruciform scepter, respectively; cross above Rev: Crowned facing busts of Constantine V, Leo III and Leo IV surmounting horizontal bar above large M; X and N flanking M, A below Dim: 20mm, 2.36 g
