Coin

MOA: University of British Columbia

3095/1647

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; to left, inscription says ‘IC’; to right, ‘XC’. Reverse: inscription of four lines, which says ‘[I]NSϤS/[X]RISTϤS/[b]ASILEϤ/[b]ASILE’. 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# 1793. The Sear catalogue says that this coin most likely belonged to John I.

  • 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.


  • Type of Item coin
  • Culture Byzantine
  • Material bronze metal
  • Measurements height 0.1 cm, diameter 2.2 cm (overall)

  • Previous Owner David Herman
  • Received from David Herman

  • Made in Turkey

  • Creation Date between 970 and 976
  • Ownership Date before February 2, 2015
  • Acquisition Date on February 2, 2015

  • Item Classes metalwork
  • Condition fair
  • Accession Number 3095/1647