Byzantine coin from ‘Anonymous Folles’ Period, 970-1092. Obverse: bust of Christ, facing front; he has a nimbus cruciger around his head, which is a cross within a halo; he holds the Book of Gospels in front of him, which is decorated with dots; to left, inscription says ‘IC’; to right, ‘XC’; there is a second inscription to the left, which says ‘EMMA’; to right, ‘NOVHΛ’. Reverse: there is an inscription of four lines, which begins with a cross, and says ‘InSϤS/XRISTOS/bASILEϤ/bASILE’; above and beneath, there is a pattern of lines with an ‘R’ in the middle. The inscription on the obverse in translation says ‘Jesus Christ’. The inscription on the reverse in translation says ‘Jesus Christ, King of Kings’.

• History Of Use

  "Follis" (denomination); Sear# 1813. The Sear catalogue says that this coin most likely belonged to Basil II and Constantine VIII.

• Narrative

  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.

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• Type of Item coin
• Culture Byzantine
• Material bronze metal
• Measurements height 0.2 cm, diameter 3.4 cm (overall)

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• Previous Owner David Herman
• Received from David Herman

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• Made in Turkey

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• Creation Date between 976 and 1028
• Ownership Date before February 2, 2015
• Acquisition Date on February 2, 2015

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• Item Classes metalwork
• Condition good
• Accession Number 3095/1615