Irene of Athens was later known as Empress Irene. She was the first woman to seize complete power of the Roman empire officially, and solely rule as Empress. She was very important historically, the most important being due to her calling off the marriage of her son to a daughter of Charlemagne, and later deposing her son Constantine VI and taking over as sole Empress, she opened the door to the Pope crowning Charlemagne as Emperor of the West, creating a permanent schism. Irene married the emperor Leo IV in 768. She was Empress when Leo was raised to the throne in 775. In 771 she gave birth to the future Constantine VI. Her choice to be married to Leo is unknown. Leo was a staunch opponent of icons, while Irene was a proponent. While maybe this was unknown at the time, it is not known why she was selected. Upon Leo's death, Irene became co-ruler and regent with Constantine VI. During this period there was struck depicting the entire family. Constantine VI & Irene, with Leo III, Constantine V, and Leo IV. 780-797. AV Solidus (19.5mm, 4.38 g, 6h). Constantinople mint. Struck 790-792. Constantine V, Leo III, and Leo IV seated facing, each crowned and draped / Crowned facing busts of Constantine VI, draped and holding globus cruciger, and Irene, wearing loros and holding globus cruciger and cruciform scepter; cross above, • between. DOC 1; Füeg – (C.2.11/Ir.2.14 [unlisted combination]); SB 1593. Good VF. The second phase of coinage was during the reign where Irene was co-ruler and regent with Constantine VI. This one depicts her on the obverse with her son on the reverse. Crucially, she is holding the scepter. Constantine VI & Irene. 780-797. AV Solidus (21mm, 4.40 g, 6h). Constantinople mint. Struck 793-797. Crowned facing bust of Irene, wearing loros, holding globus cruciger and cross-tipped staff / Crowned facing bust of Constantine, wearing chlamys, holding globus cruciger and akakia; Θ at end of legend. DOC 3c.2; Füeg 5.D; SB 1594. Some encrustation on obverse, scrapes and double strike on reverse. Good VF. The third issue is after she deposed her son to rule solely. This is the act that cause the Pope to have an excuse to crown Charlemagne Christmas day, 800 AD. Irene. 797-802. AV Solidus (21mm, 4.45 g, 6h). Constantinople mint. ЄIPIҺH ЬASILISSH, crowned facing bust of Irene, wearing loros, holding globus cruciger in right hand, cruciform scepter in left / • ЄIPIҺH ЬASILISS[H], crowned facing bust of Irene, wearing loros, holding globus cruciger in right hand, cruciform scepter in left; [archaic Θ at end of legend]. Berk 236 (this coin); cf. DOC 1a.2-5; Füeg 1.C.1 and note; SB 1599. Minor scrape on nose of obverse. Good VF. The first and third coins I copied the image from CNG. The second coin I just bought from CNG. I found it about the best portrait of Irene I have ever seen. Just why did I want a really nice Irene coin? Well, let me introduce you to PRINCESS Irene, of the Medoraman clan.
Wow, fantastic coin and such a beautiful daughter! Congratulations. Very nice write-up too. As i was reading I was like 'Oh my God are all these his?' and then I read that yours was only the middle one. Still very impressive though, having one Irene (especially such a nice one) will be just a dream for most of us. I have no Irene of mine to show, maybe one day, but I doubt it will be as nice as yours. Reading about Irene, one cannot but think that it is not a good idea to piss off their mother! She did 'depose' her son in a quite Byzantine manner after all, didn't she?
Well, trust me, I am sure I will own the other two gold types, along with the silver and copper eventually. She's only 8 months old, give a man a little time to get them all! I just REALLY liked the obverse of the piece I picked up. Except for a tiny amount of encrustation, I simply cannot find anything wrong with it, perfectly centered, well struck from fresh die, etc. I have been looking for a while, and never found anything as nice under $10k.
medoraman, Congrats on your Irene solidus, it's a beauty, but that sweetheart daughter is priceless !
