Catalog - SINCONA Auction 37

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Histamenon nomisma (solidus) 1028/1034.
Obv. +IhS XIS RЄX - RЄÇNANTInM Christ enthroned facing, wearing cross nimbus , pallium and colobium. He raises r. hand in benediction and holds book of Gospels in l. hand.
Rev. ΘCЄ bOHΘ´ - RωMAnω Romanus on l., wearing saccos and loros, holding globus cruciger in l. hand is being crowned by the Virgin on r., without nimbus, wearing pallium and maphorium. M - Θ at top.
Sear 1820. DOC 1a.
4.41 g. Extremely fine.

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Tetarteron 1028-1034.
Obv. +ΘKЄ -POHΘ Bust of the Virgin facing with pallium and maphorium. In front of her breast a medallion with the facing, nimbate bust of the infant Christ. In field MP - ΘV.
Rev. RωMAN - ΔЄCΠOT Crowned bust in loros facing, holding labarum and globus cruciger.
Sear 1821 (Extremely rare). DOC 2 (identical dies).
4.09 g. Extremely rare. The fourth known specimen (see note in DOC). Very fine style. Small edge fault. Extremely fine.
Ex Auction Bank Leu 45. Zurich May 1988. Lot 426.

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Miliaresion 1030 (?).
Obv.+ ΠΑΡΘΕΝΕ - COI ΠΟΛVΑΙΝΕ The Virgin, nimbate, standing three-quarter r. on footstool, holding in her arms the infant Christ also nimbate; in field, M - Θ.
Rev. [OC ΗΛΠΙ]ΚΕ ΠΑΝ - (ΤΑ)ΚΑΤΟΡΘΟΙ Romanus standing facing on footstool, holding long patriarchal cross and globus surmounted by patriarchal cross.
Sear 1822. DOC 3.
2.69 g. Extremely rare. Pierced. About very fine.
Ex Baldwin´s London Price list July 1992. Nr. 40.
Of the few pieces in the trade, a large number are holed. Obviously they were used as amulets because of the depiction of Mother of God and infant Christ.
This famous coin with its elegant portrayal of the Virgin is one of the most beautiful creations of Byzantine coin art. Most specimens are damaged, broken, holed or gilded. The inscription is a hexameter that goes from obverse to reverse and reads as follows: ´´He, who sets his hope in you, oh all-glorious Virgin, will have success in all his undertakings´´.

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Histamenon nomisma (solidus) 1034/1041.
Obv. +IhS XIS RЄX - RЄÇNANTInM Nimbate bust of Christ facing, wearing pallium and colobium, raising r. hand in benediction, Book of Gospels in l. hand.
Rev. +mIX - AH - L bASILЄЧS Rm Crowned bust with pendilia facing, wearing loros and holding labarum in r. hand and globus cruciger in l. hand. Manus dei above on l.
Sear 1824. DOC 1.
4.42 g. Scyphate form. Well centred on broad flan. Extremely fine.

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Histamenon nomisma (solidus) 1034/1041.
Obv. +IhS XIS RЄX - RЄÇNANTInM Nimbate bust of Christ facing, wearing pallium and colobium, raising r. hand in benediction, Book of Gospels in l. hand.
Rev. +mIX - AH - L bASILЄЧS Rm Crowned bust with pendilia facing, wearing loros and holding labarum in r. hand and globus cruciger in l. hand. Manus dei above on l.
Sear 1824. DOC 1.
4.42 g. Scyphate form. Well centred on broad flan. Small edge fault. Extremely fine.
Ex Auction Münzzentrum. Cologne, April 1989. Lot 1701.

This lot has been withdrawn.

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Histamenon 1042-1055.
Obv. +IHS XIS REX - REGNAN[TIhM] Christ, nimbate, enthroned facing raising r. hand in benediction and holding book of Gospels in l.
Rev. + (CωhST) - A hTh - bASILE[hS Rm] Bust facing, wearing crown with cross and pendilia and loros, holding labarum and globus cruciger.
Sear 1829. DOC 2a.
4.44 g. Scyphate form. Extremely fine
Ex Auction Karl Kress, Munich July 1971. Lot 873.

This lot has been withdrawn.

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Histamenon 1042-1055.
Obv. +IhS XIS REX REGNANTIhM Bust of Christ Pantokrator facing, with cross nimbus with crescent in each upper quarter, right hand raised in benediction and left hand holding book.
Rev. +CωnSTAnTh bASILEU Rm Crowned facing bust of Constantine IX, wearing collar piece and loros, and holding a cross-tipped scepter in his right hand and a globus cruciger in his left.
Sear 1830. DOC 3.
4.44 g. Scyphate form. Uncirculated.

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Histamenon 1054/1055.
Obv. +IHS XIS RЄX RЄGNANTINM, facing bust of Christ, nimbate, raising right hand in benediction and holding book of Gospels in left.
Rev. + CWNSTANTNOS bASILЄS RM, bust facing, wearing crown and chlamys, holding sword and globus cruciger; in upper left and right upper fields, stars.
Sear 1831.DOC 4a.
4.38 g. Scyphate form. Uncirculated.
Ex Auction Bank Leu36. Zurich, May 1985. Lot 404.
For the first time in Byzantine numismatics, the emperor is depicted with an attribute of war - the sword hilt. The change in subject is perhaps the result of the successful quelling of the rebellion led by Leon Tornikios, who revolted in September 1047 against Constantinus IX and was defeated in December of the same year by imperial troops. See L.-M. Hans, Der Kaiser mit dem Schwert, JNG 33 (1983) 58f. On the other hand the fineness stands against such an early emission (see DOC p. 735). The two stars probably allude to the supernova that appeared on July, 1054 in the constellation of Taurus and was visible until April 1056. This phenomenon must have had an immense impression on the contemporary population. The supernova was also recorded by Japanese and Chinese astronomers.

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Tetarteron 1042/1055.
Obv. +IhS XIS RЄX - RЄÇNANTInM Nimbate bust of Christ facing, wearing pallium and colobium, raising r. hand in benediction, Book of Gospels in l. hand. No pellets in each cross arm of nimbus.
Rev. +CWnST - ΛnTn - bΛSILЄЧS RM Crowned bust facing, wearing jewelled chlamys and holding sceptre in r. hand and globus cruciger in left.
Sear 1832. DOC 3.
4.04 g. Uncirculated.
Ex Münzzentrum, Cologne. Price List April 1975

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Tetarteron 1042/1055.
Obv. +IhS XIS RЄX - RЄÇNANTInM Nimbate bust of Christ facing, wearing pallium and colobium, raising r. hand in benediction, Book of Gospels in l. hand. No pellets in each cross arm of nimbus.
Rev. +CWnST - ΛnTn - bΛSILЄЧS RM Crowned bust facing, wearing jewelled chlamys and holding sceptre in r. hand and globus cruciger in left.
Sear 1832. DOC 3.
4.07 g. Extremely fine.
Ex Auction Dr. Busso Peus Nachf. 413. Frankfurt a. M. October 2014. Lot 635.

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Tetarteron nomisma 1042/1055.
Obv. +IhS XIS RЄX - RЄÇNANTInM Nimbate bust of Christ facing, wearing pallium and colobium, raising r. hand in benediction, Book of Gospels in l. hand. No pellets in each cross arm of nimbus.
Rev. +CW - ΛnT - bΛSILE bM Crowned bust facing, wearing jewelled chlamys and holding labarum in r. hand and globus cruciger in left.
Sear 1833. DOC 6..
4,.7 g. Extremely fine.
Purchased privately in 1978.

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Miliaresion 1042-1055.
Obv. + DECΠOI - NA CωZOIC The Virgin orans, nimbate, standing facing on footstool, wearing pallium and maphorium; at sides, MHP in monogram - ΘV. Rev. EVCERH - MONOMAXON Constantine, bearded, standing facing, crowned and in military attire, holding long cross in r. hand and resting l. on sheath of sword.
Sear 1834. DOC 7a.1.
2.68 g. Rare. Scyphate form. Small dent. Almost very fine.

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Miliaresion 1042-1055.
Obv. + DECΠOI - NA CωZOIC The Virgin orans, nimbate, standing facing on footstool, wearing pallium and maphorium; at sides, MHP in monogram - ΘV. Rev. EVCERH - MONOMAXO Constantine, bearded, standing facing, crowned and in military attire, holding spear in r. hand and resting l. on sheath of sword.
Sear -, cf. 1834. DOC -. cf. 7. See article on this coin, by C. M. Moulakis in Spink Numismatic Circular, Vol. 94. February 1986. p. 11.
2.81 g. Perhaps unique. Flattened. Good toning. Extremely fine.
Ex Auction Gorny & Mosch 219. Munich 2014. Lot 575.
Ex Auction Sternberg 21. Zurich, November 1988. Lot 608.
Surprisingly the G&M cataloguer does not realize that lot 575 is unique. Even though he refers to the Sternberg catalogue!

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2/3 miliaresion 1042-1055.
Obv. H RΛΑΧΕΡ - ΝΙΤΙCA Facing bust of the Virgin orans, wearing pallium and maphorium; at sides, MHP in monogram - ΘV.
Rev. ΘΚΕ R, Θ, / ΚωΝCTAN / TINω ΔΕC / ΠΟΤΕ Τω / ΜΟΝ - ΟΜΑ / - Χ, -.
Sear 1835. DOC 8.
1.31 g. Good very fine.
Purchased from Baldwin June 1976.

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Histamenon 1055-1056.
Obv. +IhS XII DEX REGNANTIhm Christ, nimbate,standing facing on footstool, wearing pallium and colobium and holding Book of Gospels.
Rev. +ΘEOΔωPA - AVΓOVCtA Theodora, crowned, and the Virgin, nimbate, standing facing holding labarum between them; the Empress wears saccos and loros, the Virgin is clad in pallium and maphorion. On either side of her shoulders, M - Θ.
Sear 1837. DOC 1a.
4.36 g. Rare. Good extremely fine.
Ex Frankfurter Münzhandlung E. Button. Frankfurt a. M. January 1971.

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Histamenon 1055-1056.
Obv. +IhS XII DEX REGNANTIhm Christ, nimbate,standing facing on footstool, wearing pallium and colobium and holding Book of Gospels.
Rev. +ΘEOΔωPA - AVΓOVCtA Theodora, crowned, and the Virgin, nimbate, standing facing holding labarum between them; the Empress wears saccos and loros, the Virgin is clad in pallium and maphorion. On either side of her shoulders, M - Θ.
Sear 1837. DOC 1a.
4.43 g. Rare. Good extremely fine.
Ex Auction Münzzentrum 152. Solingen 2009. Lot 900.
Ex Münzen & Medaillen AG. Price List 460. Basel, 1983. Nr. 40.

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Tetarteron 1055/1056.
Obv. Facing bust of Christ with cross nimbus, pallium and colobium. His r. hand is raised in benediction, his l. holds book of Gospels. IC - XC to sides.
Rev. +ΘЄOΔ - AVΓCT Crowned facing bust wearing saccos and loros. In her r. hand jewelled sceptre, in l. hand globus cruciger.
DOC 2. S. 1838.
4.00 g. Extremely rare. Extremely fine.
Purchased from Spink London in February 1986.