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<p>[QUOTE=&quot;The Trachy Enjoyer, post: 7754363, member: 118358&quot;]Its not often a ancient ruler presents himself on coinage as weak or meek. From appearances with the god of war to outright brandishing of weapons, ancient kings and emperors used coins as propaganda to display power. From peace to crisis the message never changed but increased in intensity. One ruler set himself out, however, in one of the most unique coin designs in all of history. The divinely appointed Emperor of the Romans, supreme authority of the world in charge of the oldest empire then known, knelt piously in proskynesis before Christ. From the infallible, divine dominate has come the humble Christian.</p><p>[ATTACH=full]1328243[/ATTACH]</p><p><br /></p><p><b>Andronikos II Palaeologus Hyperpyron, Constantinople mint, sole reign 1282-1295.</b></p><p>Obv. <b>MP - OV </b></p><p>Bust of Virgin Mary, orans, within city walls furnished with six groups of towers.</p><p><br /></p><p>Rev. <b>+/ANΔPO/ΔNIKICA/ΔΠIΠO/ΔNHCO</b> (Correctly spelled: +ANΔP/ONIKOC/EN XW ΔECΠO/THC O), <b>IC XC</b></p><p>Nimbate Andronicus II crouching in proskynesis before Christ, standing facing, holding book in his left hand and placing his right hand on the head of the emperor.</p><p>&quot;Andronikos, by the Grace of God Despot of the Romans&quot; (translation may be a bit inaccurate but I have tried my best<img src="styles/default/xenforo/clear.png" class="mceSmilieSprite mceSmilie49" alt=":grumpy:" unselectable="on" unselectable="on" />).</p><p><br /></p><p>The most remarkable aspect of this coin is the Emperor depicting himself in Proskynesis before God. See below for a comparison to a 9th century mosaic of the Emperor Leo IV &quot;The Wise&quot; in the same pose (with Christ seated whereas on the coin, Christ is standing).</p><p>[ATTACH=full]1328240[/ATTACH]</p><p>No other coin like this type really exists. Searching for Proskynesis in the usual databases only pull this hyperpyron. It was (and in someparts still is) viewed as the ultimate act of reverence and love for Christ, the very pose all the Apostles fell to upon seeing Christ risen from he dead.</p><p><br /></p><p><b>Matthew 28:7-9</b> - Then go quickly and tell his disciples: ‘He has risen from the dead and is going ahead of you into Galilee. There you will see him.’ Now I have told you.” So the women hurried away from the tomb, afraid yet filled with joy, and ran to tell his disciples. Suddenly Jesus met them. “Greetings,” he said. <b>They came to him, clasped his feet and worshiped him.</b></p><p><br /></p><p>[ATTACH=full]1328242[/ATTACH] [ATTACH=full]1328241[/ATTACH]</p><p><br /></p><p>Was this an ultimate act of overt humility by a devout Emperor? Or rather an attempt to gain popularity by portraying himself as pious? Would a truly humble person depict themselves as such on a coin? Perhaps a question better left to the philosopher...<img src="styles/default/xenforo/clear.png" class="mceSmilieSprite mceSmilie2" alt=";)" unselectable="on" unselectable="on" /></p><p><br /></p><p>There is some speculation that the type ties into Andronikos&#039; annulment of the extremely unpopular union of the Orthodox church with/subservient to the Papacy signed by his father, Michael VIII. This extremely unusual coin could have been a way to distance Andronikos from the &quot;taint&quot; (as viewed by his subjects) of the Catholic church. How could an emperor who so piously worships God even be thought of as a Catholic sympathizer<img src="styles/default/xenforo/clear.png" class="mceSmilieSprite mceSmilie65" alt=":meh:" unselectable="on" unselectable="on" /></p><p><br /></p><p>Such a fun type need not be (comparatively) expensive. This cost me 220 pounds<img src="styles/default/xenforo/clear.png" class="mceSmilieSprite mceSmilie50" alt=":happy:" unselectable="on" unselectable="on" />...I won&#039;t be getting new coins for a while but it was worth it! Share your thoughts and/or related coins below![/QUOTE]</p><p><br /></p>

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