New Byzantine follis arrived today, and it is a fairly nice example from the Macedonian dynasty that ruled Byzantium for over 200 years between 867 and 1081. It is regarded as one of the finer periods in the history of the empire as there was territorial and financial growth, accompanied by a cultural renaissance. This follis is from about the middle of that period, and specifically the joint reign of Constantine VII Porphyrogenitos (the purple-born) and his mother Zoe Karvounopsina (the coal-black eyed). It is not my first coin from Constantine VII as I also have a solidus from his joint reign with Romanos Lekapenos. The reverse legend translates as: Constantine and Zoe kings of the Romans. Joint reigns was quite a common thing in Byzantium, but Constantine VII kinda overdid it as he shared the throne with 5 other people in total. The first one was his mother Zoe, who was actually the 4th wife of Leo VI, something that wasn't allowed in the Orthodox tradition. For this reason the nickname 'Porphyrogenitos' was a sponsored one to remind the people that he was born in the purple imperial room, thus giving him an air of legitimacy. When Leo died, his younger brother Alexander initially took over and Zoe ended up in a monastery. She didn't stay there long, as bad choices especially with the campaign against Bulgaria brought her back in favor and she ended up regent to Constantine. For about 5 years she run the show, but as things with the Bulgarians didn't improve, she was eventually overthrown by Romanos Lekapenos who become co-emperor to Constantine. She returned to the monastery and spent the rest of her life there. Show me your coins from the Macedonian dynasty, or any coins you have with mothers and sons on them!
@Only a Poor Old Man, yet another of your seamless combinations of an enlightening writeup and a coin to match! The example, with the high relief and the clarity of both portraits, is decidedly high end (...from all I've seen) for folles generally. (Sadly, all I've got for the Macedonians are anonymous folles, posted recently, and one of Leo the Wise, which resists finding the .jpgs of.)
Byzantine copper coins rarely come in high relief, that is true. However a nice patina can go a long way to bring out the details. I often find that I prefer a nice and interesting patina than a monochrome high-relief coin, but this one is quite attractive with its dark-reddish color. Normally i pick coins from the internet, but this one was on the cover page of a physical catalogue and it grabbed my attention.
I have one of these, too! CONSTANTINE VII, Porphyrogenitus, with Zoe, 913-959 AD. Byzantine Æ Follis, 5.15 g, 23.7 mm, 5 h. Constantinople, 914-919 AD. Obv: +COnSTAn CE ZOH b, crowned facing busts of Constantine, wearing loros, and Zoe, wearing chlamys, holding patriarchal cross between them. Rev: + COnS/TAnTInO'/ CE ZOH bA/SILIS RO/MEOn. Refs: DOC III 22; Berk 928; SB 1758.
@Roman Collector, your example confirms everything @Only a Poor Old Man said about how a solidly complex patina gets along with detail.
