Coin

MOA: University of British Columbia

3095/1457

Byzantine coin from ‘Anonymous Folles’ Period, 970-1092. (Likely Nicephorus III, 1078-1081.) Obverse: bust of Christ, facing front; he has a nimbus cruciger around his head, which is a cross within a halo; to left, inscription says ‘IC’; to right, it is illegible. Reverse: large cross; in the middle, there is an ‘X’; on each of the four ends, there is one large pellet and two small pellets; to lower left and lower right of cross, there are floral ornaments; to upper left and upper right of cross, there are crescents.

  • History Of Use

    The ‘Anonymous Folles’ are a group of coins spanning just over a century. They often have a depiction of Christ in place of any images or inscriptions which would indicate the emperor to whose reign they belong, thus rendering them anonymous.


  • Type of Item coin
  • Culture Byzantine
  • Material bronze metal
  • Measurements height 0.2 cm, diameter 2.4 cm (overall)

  • Previous Owner David Herman
  • Received from David Herman

  • Made in Istanbul, Constantinopolis

  • Creation Date between 1075 and 1080
  • Ownership Date before February 2, 2015
  • Acquisition Date on February 2, 2015

  • Item Classes metalwork
  • Condition fair
  • Accession Number 3095/1457