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 ‘I[C]’; to right, ‘XC’; there is a second inscription to the left, which begins with a cross, and says ‘E’. Reverse: there is an inscription of four lines, which begins with a cross, and says ‘InSϤS/[X]RISTϤS/[b]ASILEϤ/bASILE’; above and beneath, there is a pattern of dots. The inscription on the obverse in translation says ‘Jesus Christ’. The inscription on the reverse in translation says ‘Jesus Christ, King of Kings’.

• 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.

• History Of Use

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

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• Type of Item coin
• Culture Byzantine
• Material bronze metal
• Measurements height 0.3 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 3095/1621