I can't seem to get enough of "the bizzies." So I'm "gettin' bizzy with the bizzies," which probably sounded hip 15 years ago, and possibly not even then. Leo VI, also known as "The Wise" or "The Philosopher," didn't have an exceptional reign, but he did compose what became the basis for later medieval law. It took him four wives to produce an heir, earning him the later moniker "The Henry VIII of Byzantium." Also, similar to Henry VIII, this wife-hopping didn't go down too well with the church and Leo found himself banned from St. Sofia. Despite everything, fate spared him the violent death of many other Byzantine emperors. Overall, he sounds like an interesting, but not a particularly notable, emperor. His moneymakers made very nice coins, though. I particularly liked the details on the example below. This exact type, according to the Sear book, appears to exist in greater abundance than any other Byzantine type. So, if you have any Leo VI issues, please post them! Leo VI (AD 886-912); Constantinople; Follis; 7.67g; Obv: +LEOn bAS - ILEVS ROM' Bust facing wearing crown and chlamys, holding akakia in l. hand. Rx: Inscription in four lines: +LEOn / Eh ΘEO bA / SILEVS R / OmEOh, Sear 1729
Much nicer then mine. Mine was from a group lot. Leo VI the Wise (870 - 912 A.D.) Æ Follis O: + LEOn bASILVS ROm, bust facing, with short beard, wearing crown with cross and chlamys, holding akakia in left hand. R: + LEOn/En ΘEO bA/SILEVS R/OMEOn, inscription in four lines. Constantinople (Istanbul, Turkey) mint 8.58g 26mm SBCV 172
And here's mine, which is also inferior to the OP example: SB_1729. 27 mm. 7.02 gr. BTW: In case anyone is curious, the legends translate into English as... ...Obv.: "Leo King of the Romans" ...Rev.: "Leo by the grace of God, king of the Romans
