Follis of Leo VI "The Wise"

Leo VI was emperor of the Byzantine Empire from 886-912, and evidently quite the scholar. His works include large legal treatises, political orations, liturgical poems, and theological papers. I've ordered a translation of the Taktika, a treatise on military operations (for a little light, bedtime reading.)

This coin has somewhat rustic surfaces ("rough" is such a negative word, don't you think?), but the detail and patina are quite attractive for a budget example. I seem to be in a Byzantine/Medieval mood these days, but I keep coming across coins that are hard to pass up...



Byzantine Empire, Leo VI, AD 886-912 AE follis, 7.1g, 26mm, 6h; Constantinople mint.
Obv.: +LEON bASILEVS ROM; crowned bust facing with short beard, wearing chlamys, holding akakia.
Rev.: +LEON / EN QEO bA / SILEVS R / OMEON
Reference: SB 1729.

Not being well-versed in matters Byzantine, I had no idea what an akakia was...

"The akakia (Greek: ἀκακία, literally "guilelessness") was a cylindrical purple silk roll containing dust, held by the Byzantine emperors during ceremonies, and symbolizing the mortal nature of all men. It possibly developed from the mappa, the cloth used by the Roman consuls to start the races at the hippodrome." - Wikipedia

Perhaps we should all carry one around to encourage guilelessness? I wonder if the akakia has any relationship to the Christian tradition (in certain denominations) of Ash Wednesday.

 

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Great coin. When did Christ first show up on Byzantine coins?

 

I don't know - I'm only beginning to research Byzantine. But that's the emperor on that coin, not Christ.

 

a byzantine classic!



i don't know what the first coins to show Christ were, mine are anonymous folles or scyphates...they hit about the same time.

 

Christ first appeared under Justinian II 685-695 AD but I do not have that one.
http://www.acsearch.info/search.html?id=1444441
My earliest is this Basil I and Constantine fourree 200 years later. Most of that gap is due to the movement known as Iconoclasm that held it inappropriate to do images of God.


For the record, this is my Leo VI. Perhaps his akakia leaked and explains the soil patina? How's that for guilelessness?

 

lol

 

Someone may want to do full research on this one but I doubt many of us can appreciate just how big a deal putting Christ on the coins was in that day. In addition to upsetting the Iconoclast Christians it made the coinage untouchable by Muslims who had previously even struck coins copying Byzantine originals. Leo III forbade images of Christ which upset the regular Catholic Byzantines who loved their icons. This is the kind of dispute that people die for on both sides.

Justinian II had two reigns. At his first deposition, his nose and tongue were slit supposedly rendering him unacceptable for rule. He came back and had a reign of terror killing everyone who supported those who replaced him. The second time he we deposed, he was executed.

 

That's a very wise pickup, JA => well done!!

Oh and yah, I have an example as well (a very different colour than Doug's and the rest of the wise coins shown in this thread)

 

Four Wise Coins

SB 1728. Leo, crowned and wearing loros, seated facing on lyre-backed throne, holding labarum and akakia (and know I know what an akakia is )


SB 1729. Crowned bust facing with short beard, wearing chlamys, holding akakia.



SB 1730. Leo on left and Alexander on right, both facing, crowned, and wearing loros, seated facing on double throne, holding labarum between them.

 

Great coins everyone! Thanks for posting.

 

Nice, this one is on it's way to me right now

 

There's no arguing with smooth surfaces, but these rugged coins, some with sandy deposits, have a certain irresistible appeal as well.

 

Great coins all!

 

Kind of a wise guy..

 

Those are all lovely coins, indeed! Here are some of my coins, so that I can join on the fun:

Byzantine Empire: Leo VI the Wise (886-912) Æ Follis, Constantinople (Sear-1728; DOC 5)

Obv: Leo VI, with short beard, seated facing on lyre-backed throne, wearing modified loros and crown with cross. In right hand, labarum, left resets on lap; +LЄOҺЬA S ILЄVSR OM' ✶ around
Rev: +LЄOҺ / ЄҺΘЄOЬA / SILЄVSR / OMЄOҺ in four lines




Byzantine Empire: Leo VI the Wise (886-912) Æ Follis, Constantinople (Sear-1729)

Obv.: +LEON bASILEVS ROM; crowned bust facing with short beard, wearing chlamys, holding akakia.
Rev.: +LEON / EN QEO bA / SILEVS R / OMEON




Byzantine Empire: Leo VI the Wise (886-912) Follis, Constantinople (Sear-1730)

Obv: Leo VI and Alexander, each crowned and wearing loros, seated facing on double throne, holding labarum between them. Legend around - + LEOn S ALEXAnGROS.
Rev: Legend in four lines - + LEOn S ALEXAnGROS bASIL' ROmEOn




Byzantine Empire: Leo VI the Wise (886-912) Æ Follis, Cherson (Sear-1731; DOC 9)

Obv: Large ΛЄ
Rev: Cross crosslet set on two steps; • to either side

 

Very cool coins people. I'll get some Byzantines eventually!

 

That's what I keep telling myself too!

 

It's a quick-win. Impressive-looking big folles with nice sandy patinas are quite affordable. The trouble is, once I start a Byzantine collection, i'll want every ruler.

 

Unfortunately, I can relate to that logic!

 

Beautiful. Is this more or less a complete type set of Leo's, leaving out minor varieties? I know there aren't too many types. (The Cherson mint coin is one of the nicest I've seen.)