Byzantine coin of John II, 1118-1143. Obverse: bust of the Virgin Mary, facing front; she raises her hands in prayer; to left, inscription says ‘MP’; to right, ‘Θ[V]’. Reverse: John II, standing and facing front; he wears a chlamys and a divitision, which is a military tunic; to left, he holds a jewelled sceptre; to right, he holds a globus cruciger; to left, inscription is five lines long, and says ‘IW/ΔEC/ΠOT/TW/ΠOP’; to right, most of the inscription is illegible, but the first two lines say ‘Φ/PO’.

• History Of Use

  “Tetarteron” (denomination); Sear# 1946.

• Narrative

  The Virgin Mary is described in the Sear catalogue as the ‘Virgin Orans’, meaning the ‘Praying Virgin’. The inscription on the obverse translates as ‘Mother of God’. The 'Virgin Orans' was a much copied image in Byzantine art and coinage, and is still found on Ukrainian coinage today.

---

• Type of Item coin
• Culture Byzantine
• Material bronze metal
• Measurements height 0.2 cm, diameter 1.8 cm (overall)

---

• Previous Owner David Herman
• Received from David Herman

---

• Made in Thessalonica

---

• Creation Date between 1118 and 1143
• Ownership Date before February 2, 2015
• Acquisition Date on February 2, 2015

---

• Item Classes metalwork
• Condition fair
• Accession Number 3095/1498