| Heritage World Coin Auctions > NYINC Signature Sale 3113 | Auction date: 8 January 2024 |
| Lot number: 31068 Price realized: 44,000 USD (Approx. 40,110 EUR) Note: Prices do not include buyer's fees. | |
| Lot description: Ancients Leo V the Armenian, Sole Reign (AD 813-820). AV solidus (23mm, 4.42 gm, 6h). NGC MS★ 5/5 - 4/5. Constantinople, AD 813. •-LЄ-Oh bASILЄЧ', bust of Leo V facing, wearing short beard, crown with cross, and chlamys pinned at right shoulder with jeweled brooch, cross potent in right hand, akakia in left / •-LЄOh dЄ-SPOtIS*X, bust of Leo V facing, wearing short beard and loros, globus cruciger in right hand. Sear 1626. DOC 1. Füeg 1.A. Solidly struck from fresh dies, excellently centered on a broad flan with magnificent luster. One of only two examples certified, and among the greatest rarities of the Byzantine series. The most recent previous example to come to market in sales archives was the specimen we sold eight years ago in our ANA Auction 3041, 13 August 2015, lot 32105, which realized $34,000 with buyer's premium. The Iconoclast Era was really a century-long civil war within Byzantine society that saw the great restorative work of iconoclast emperors such as Leo III , Constantine V, and Leo VI undermined by the active antagonism of a large majority of the empire's population. The iconoclasts believed that veneration of sacred images and icons was a form of idolatry prohibited by the scriptures; most Byzantines loved the images and made them central to their religious observance. Iconoclasm was strongest in the army, while icon veneration was popular among the laity. Leo V, "the Armenian", launched the second wave of Iconoclast persecution after the interlude provided by the Empress Irene, who restored the icons during her five-year sole reign. As implied by his epithet, Leo was of Armenian descent and rose through army ranks to become Strategos (governor general) of the Anatolikon theme, which held the empire's most powerful army. Following a major military defeat, Leo forced the abdication of the ineffectual emperor Michael I Rhangabe and seized the throne for himself. With the Bulgarian Khan Krum laying siege to Constantinople, the situation was quite precarious, and Leo attempted to end the siege by having Krum assassinated during a parley. The stratagem failed, but Krum died soon thereafter and Leo led an attack on the leaderless Bulgarians that resulted in a great Byzantine victory and a 30-year peace treaty that brought the empire respite. This accomplished, Leo V began pursuing his ultimate goal -- the restoration of iconoclasm. He forced out the iconodule Patriarch Nicephorus, confiscated church properties and exiled churchmen and abbots who resisted. The undercurrent of distrust this caused led to conspiracies against the regime, which he ruthlessly suppressed. One of his victims was the general Michael the Amorion, whom he imprisoned; Michael, however, had many supporters and they mounted a final and successful attempt on Leo's life during mass at the chapel of St. Stephen on Christmas Day, AD 820. Dressed as monks, they surrounded and cut down the emperor on the high altar. Michael was crowned as the new emperor with his legs still encased in manacles. This spectacular gold solidus was struck in the first few weeks of his reign, before he appointed his son Constantine as co-emperor. https://coins.ha.com/itm/ancients/byzantine/ancients-leo-v-the-armenian-sole-reign-ad-813-820-av-solidus-23mm-442-gm-6h-ngc-msand-9733-5-5-4-5/a/3113-31068.s?type=DA-DMC-CoinArchives-WorldCoins-3113-01082024 HID02906262019 © 2023 Heritage Auctions | All Rights Reserved Estimate: 25000-40000 USD |  |
Match 1:
| Heritage World Coin Auctions > Showcase Auction 61386 | Auction date: 21 April 2024 |
| Lot number: 24138 Price realized: 1,100 USD (Approx. 1,032 EUR) Note: Prices do not include buyer's fees. | |
| Lot description: Ancients Constantine V Copronymus and Leo IV (AD 750-775). AV solidus (20mm, 4.46 gm, 6h). NGC MS 5/5 - 4/5, clipped. Constantinople. COnSTAhTInOS S LЄOn O nЄOS, crowned facing busts of Constantine V (on left) with short beard, and Leo IV (on right), beardless, both wearing chlamys; cross in field above / G-LЄ-ON P A MЧL, bust of Leo III facing, with short beard, wearing crown surmounted by cross and loros, cross potent in right hand. Sear 1551. https://coins.ha.com/itm/ancients/byzantine/ancients-constantine-v-copronymus-and-leo-iv-ad-750-775-av-solidus-20mm-446-gm-6h-ngc-ms-5-5-4-5-clipped/a/61386-24138.s?type=DA-DMC-CoinArchives-WorldCoins-61386-04212024 HID02906262019 © 2024 Heritage Auctions | All Rights Reserved |  |
Match 2:
| Heritage World Coin Auctions > Showcase Auction 61357 | Auction date: 14 January 2024 |
| Lot number: 22062 Price realized: Unsold | |
| Lot description: Ancients Irene, Sole Reign (AD 797-802). AV solidus (20mm, 4.42 gm, 5h). NGC MS 5/5 - 5/5. Constantinople. ЄIRIhH-bASILISSH, bust of Irene facing, wearing loros and crown with pendilia, two pinnacles, and cross in center, globus cruciger in right hand, transverse cruciform scepter in left / •-ЄIRIhH-bASILISSH Θ, bust of Irene facing, wearing loros and crown with pendilia, two pinnacles, and cross in center, globus cruciger in right hand, transverse cruciform scepter in left. Sear 1599. The brief sole reign of the Empress Irene was a milestone in both Roman and Byzantine history, as it marked the first time a woman ruled the Empire in her own right. Previous empresses had effectively wielded supreme power, but only by using a male figurehead as nominal ruler. An Athenian beauty of renowned intellect, Irene rose to prominence as the wife of Emperor Leo IV. When Leo died in AD 780, Irene ruled as regent for their adolescent son Constantine VI until iconoclast ministers forced her ouster. But when Constantine VI embarrassed the regime with a series of military blunders and public scandals, Irene had him ousted and blinded in AD 797, seizing sole power for herself. She won popularity with generous handouts and tax reductions, but the state's coffers soon emptied and she faced a series of military disasters that further undermined her position. Furthermore, the accession of a female promoted the Pope in Rome to declare the imperial throne vacant and the Frankish king Charlemagne was duly crowned "Emperor of the Romans" in AD 800. He in turn sent Irene an offer of marriage which might have united Eastern and Western Christendom under one government and changed the course of history, but it was not to be: In AD 802 Irene was ousted in a coup led by her finance minister Nicephorus, who exiled her to Lesbos, where she died the following year. Her devotion to icons led to her canonization in the Orthodox Church. From the Bob Klein History of Money Collection https://coins.ha.com/itm/ancients/byzantine/ancients-irene-sole-reign-ad-797-802-av-solidus-20mm-442-gm-5h-ngc-ms-5-5-5-5/a/61357-22062.s?type=DA-DMC-CoinArchives-WorldCoins-61357-01142024 HID02906262019 © 2023 Heritage Auctions | All Rights Reserved |  |
Match 3:
| Heritage World Coin Auctions > CSNS Signature Sale 3115 | Auction date: 8 May 2024 |
| Lot number: 31107 Price realized: To Be Posted | |
| Lot description: Ancients Irene, Sole Reign (AD 797-802). AV solidus (20mm, 4.42 gm, 5h). NGC MS 5/5 - 5/5. Constantinople. ЄIRIhH-bASILISSH, bust of Irene facing, wearing loros and crown with pendilia, two pinnacles, and cross in center, globus cruciger in right hand, transverse cruciform scepter in left / •-ЄIRIhH-bASILISSH Θ, bust of Irene facing, wearing loros and crown with pendilia, two pinnacles, and cross in center, globus cruciger in right hand, transverse cruciform scepter in left. Sear 1599. This coin features two commanding, nonchalant portraits of the queen, prominently placing her likeness on both sides along with her name for unmistakable identification. It is struck onto brilliant, velveteen surfaces, enhancing its allure. Truly, this coin demands to be appreciated in hand to fully experience its remarkable impact. From the Bob Klein History of Money Collection. The brief sole reign of the Empress Irene was a milestone in both Roman and Byzantine history, as it marked the first time a woman ruled the Empire in her own right. Previous empresses had effectively wielded supreme power, but only by using a male figurehead as nominal ruler. An Athenian beauty of renowned intellect, Irene rose to prominence as the wife of Emperor Leo IV. When Leo died in AD 780, Irene ruled as regent for their adolescent son Constantine VI until iconoclast ministers forced her ouster. But when Constantine VI embarrassed the regime with a series of military blunders and public scandals, Irene had him ousted and blinded in AD 797, seizing sole power for herself. She won popularity with generous handouts and tax reductions, but the state's coffers soon emptied and she faced a series of military disasters that further undermined her position. Furthermore, the accession of a female promoted the Pope in Rome to declare the imperial throne vacant and the Frankish king Charlemagne was duly crowned "Emperor of the Romans" in AD 800. He in turn sent Irene an offer of marriage which might have united Eastern and Western Christendom under one government and changed the course of history, but it was not to be: In AD 802 Irene was ousted in a coup led by her finance minister Nicephorus, who exiled her to Lesbos, where she died the following year. Her devotion to icons led to her canonization in the Orthodox Church. From the Bob Klein History of Money Collection https://coins.ha.com/itm/ancients/byzantine/ancients-irene-sole-reign-ad-797-802-av-solidus-20mm-442-gm-5h-ngc-ms-5-5-5-5/a/3115-31107.s?type=DA-DMC-CoinArchives-WorldCoins-3115-05082024 HID02906262019 © 2024 Heritage Auctions | All Rights Reserved Estimate: 5000-7000 USD |  |
Match 4:
| Heritage World Coin Auctions > NYINC Signature Sale 3114 | Auction date: 16 January 2024 |
| Lot number: 33294 Price realized: 850 USD (Approx. 781 EUR) Note: Prices do not include buyer's fees. | |
| Lot description: Ancients Justinian II, First Reign (AD 685-695). AV solidus (19mm, 4.42 gm, 6h). NGC MS 5/5 - 2/5, bent. Constantinople, 6th officina, AD 687-692. d IЧStINIA-NЧS PЄ AVG, bust of Justinian II facing, with short beard, wearing chlamys and crown surmounted by cross, globus cruciger in right hand / VICTORIA-AVϚЧ S, cross potent on three steps; CONOB in exergue. Sear 1246. Cartwheeling luster twists across the nearly pristine surfaces. The bend is minimal and does not detract from the overall beauty of the piece. From the Abbeygate Collection https://coins.ha.com/itm/ancients/byzantine/ancients-justinian-ii-first-reign-ad-685-695-av-solidus-19mm-442-gm-6h-ngc-ms-5-5-2-5-bent/a/3114-33294.s?type=DA-DMC-CoinArchives-WorldCoins-3114-01162024 HID02906262019 © 2023 Heritage Auctions | All Rights Reserved |  |
Match 5:
| Heritage World Coin Auctions > Showcase Auction 61386 | Auction date: 21 April 2024 |
| Lot number: 24139 Price realized: 1,050 USD (Approx. 986 EUR) Note: Prices do not include buyer's fees. | |
| Lot description: Ancients Constantine V Copronymus and Leo IV (AD 750-775). AV solidus (20mm, 4.46 gm, 6h). NGC MS 4/5 - 4/5. Constantinople, AD 757-775. COnS-TAhTInOSS LЄOn O nЄOS, draped facing busts of Constantine V (on left) with short beard, and Leo IV (on right), beardless, both wearing crown surmounted by cross; cross above pellet between / C-LЄ-ON PA MЧL Φ, facing bust of Leo III, with short beard, wearing loros and crown surmounted by cross, cross potent in right hand. Sear 1551. https://coins.ha.com/itm/ancients/byzantine/ancients-constantine-v-copronymus-and-leo-iv-ad-750-775-av-solidus-20mm-446-gm-6h-ngc-ms-4-5-4-5/a/61386-24139.s?type=DA-DMC-CoinArchives-WorldCoins-61386-04212024 HID02906262019 © 2024 Heritage Auctions | All Rights Reserved |  |
