Byzantine numismatic jargon has labeled these common gold coins as "six headers" because six different people are portrayed on one coin. Although common, well struck coins in choice condition can be very expensive. Nomos AG sold a gem grade example last year for $4,489.00 ! Nice examples in V.F. grade can be had in the $500-700 range. Romanus IV Diogenes, with Eudocia, Michael VII, Constantius, and Andronicus. AD 1068-1071. AV Histamenon Nomisma: 27 mm, 4.43 gm, 6 h. Constantinople Mint. Obverse: Jesus Christ standing on foot stool crowning Romanus & Eudocia who are holding a globus cruciger. Reverse: Michael holding a labarum & akakia, flanked by Constantius & Andronicus who are holding a globus criciger & akakia. Slight doubling on reverse side. Sear 1859. Al Kowsky Collection. All the listings I've seen of this coin type describe the obverse side of the coin with Michael VII, flanked by his brothers Constantius & Andronicus. I believe this to be incorrect. I believe the side with Christ flanked by Romanus & Eudocia should be the obverse side, regardless of the form of this scyphate coin. Weather the obverse is concave or convex should have no bearing on this designation. The reign of Romanus IV & Eudocia is one of the most bizarre chapters in Byzantine history. When Romanus lost the epic Battle of Manzikert, he was forced to surrender & lay on the ground while Sultan Alp Arslan put his foot on the neck of Romanus. Miniature medieval painting of Romans & Alp Arslan After this humiliation the Sultan treated Romanus as an emperor with all respect due to one. He allowed Romanus to return to Constantinople with a set of embarrassing demands for surrender. When the disgraced Romanus did return he was forced to relinquish his status as emperor & was jailed. Later he was bound & had his eyes removed with a red-hot iron poker . He then was put on a donkey & paraded about the city like a dying corpse. Soon there after maggots formed in his eye sockets & he died an agonizing death. Eudocia was exiled to a church she founded at the mouth of the Hellespont, tonsured & compelled to wear a veil. A period ivory plaque thought to depict Christ flanked by Romanus & Eudocia. Bibliotheque Nationale, Paris. References: Byzantium, The Apogee, by John Julius Norwich. Copyright 1993. Byzantine Coins & Their Values, by David R. Sear. Copyright 1987 Wikipedia.
That's a beautiful coin, Al. And an interesting essay, with beautiful photographs. All of the blinding that went on, was one of the dark aspects of the Byzantine Empire. I read, that the Byzantines considered blinding, to be more "merciful", than just killing someone. I'm not sure that I agree. If they wanted an emperor to "retire", then sometimes they blinded him/her, because they considered a blind person, to be unable to be emperor. However, Isaac II was an exception to the rule. He was deposed and blinded, but then 8 years later, he became emperor again, for a 2nd reign. However, the Byzantines did not have a monopoly on cruelty, during the Ancient times, Dark Ages, and Middle Ages. Therefore the expression "I'm going to get Medieval on your XXXXXX".
EDIT : I combined the words, from this post, with my previous post. I guess I can't delete this post.
what an awsome coin, Al , congrats my humble bronze of Romanus IV Diogenes: another punishment for fallen Byzantine emperors: slicing the nose off, an emperor should be whole & sound, that way they prevented a come back of the fallen emperor.
Sweet coin, and definitely a must-have emperor, due to the Manzikert disaster. Not easy to get a portrait, unfortunately. Here's my budget portrait, on a holed 1/3 miliaresion: Surely the anvil die must have been concave? Otherwise the blank would just slide off, I would think.
Great coin. I always wanted one of those... I don't think they are that common, they don't seem to appear lately that often especially in such a good condition. What's the uncertainty? The artist even went into the trouble of writing everyone's name and title next to their heads! Here is mu humble bronze example of Romanus IV:
sand, Thanks for the kind words . You're right on about Byzantine cruelty ! Some historians believe the Byzantine use of "Greek Fire" in warfare was cruel also. America's use of napalm in the Viet Nam War has often been compared to "Greek Fire". I guess anything goes in warfare ...
Andres, Both of the folles you've posted are handsome coins with attractive patinas . Some researchers believe the ivory plaque is the image of Romanos II & his child bride , although this is hard to substantiate. See the link below. Romanos Ivory - Wikipedia
S.A., Of course you're right about the bottom die being concave, but this doesn't mean the image of that die can't be designated as the obverse of the coin . The portrait on your coin is a handsome one . Romanus IV was a great general despite losing the Battle of Manzikert. Someone thought enough of him to create a pendant out of this coin .
Ah! I'm used to the obverse = anvil terminology. To quote Barry Murphy as an authority here: But looking around on the web, I see this terminology is not consistent, esp. for modern coins. (Sometimes "obverse" means something like "the most important side of the coin.") You learn something every day! But was that before or after Manzikert?
