| Heritage World Coin Auctions > CSNS Signature Sale 3115 | Auction date: 8 May 2024 |
| Lot number: 32333 Price realized: This lot is for sale in an upcoming auction - Bid on this lot  | Show similar lots on CoinArchives Find similar lots in upcoming auctions on  |
| Lot description: Ancients Nicephorus I (AD 802-811). AV solidus (19mm, 3.87 gm, 12h). NGC Choice AU 5/5 - 3/5, scuffs, brushed. Sicilian mint, probably Syracuse, ca. AD 802/3. NI-FOLOS (sic) bAS, crowned facing bust of Nicephorus, wearing chlamys pinned at right shoulder, holding cross potent in right hand and akakia in left / IhSUS XRIS-TUS NICA X, cross potent on base and three steps, flanked by C-I. Seemingly unpublished in standard references. Sear -. DOC -. Füeg -. Spahr -. See the following for similar examples CNG 105, lot 1056, Nomos 12, lot 240, and NAC 75, lot 696 (all from same dies). Extremely rare, lustrous, and satiny finish. Ex Gorny & Mosch, private sale with old dealer's tag included. The former imperial treasurer, Nicephorus I came to power in the coup that toppled the controversial Empress Irene. Nicephorus was a strict conservative with considerable military and administrative experience. He at first placed the familiar Cross Potent on the reverse of his coins, but later replaced this with a portrait of his young son and hoped-for successor, Stauracius. This extremely rare solidus from the Syracuse mint still retains the Cross Potent, and probably belongs to the first year of the reign, AD 802-803. Though relatively successful in domestic and foreign affairs, the regime came to grief in AD 811 when the army of Nicephorus and Stauracius was ambushed and destroyed by the Bulgarian Khan Krum. Nicephorus perished in the disaster, and Krum had his skull made into a drinking cup, which became part of the Bulgarian royal regalia. https://coins.ha.com/itm/ancients/byzantine/ancients-nicephorus-i-ad-802-811-av-solidus-19mm-387-gm-12h-ngc-choice-au-5-5-3-5-scuffs-brushed/a/3115-32333.s?type=DA-DMC-CoinArchives-WorldCoins-3115-05082024 HID02906262019 © 2024 Heritage Auctions | All Rights Reserved |  |
