| Heritage World Coin Auctions > Showcase Auction 61386 | Auction date: 21 April 2024 |
| Lot number: 24165 Price realized: 1,300 USD (Approx. 1,220 EUR) Note: Prices do not include buyer's fees. | Show similar lots on CoinArchives Find similar lots in upcoming auctions on  |
| Lot description: Ancients Nicephorus II Phocas (AD 963-969). AV histamenon nomisma (21mm, 6h). ANACS AU 58. Constantinople, AD 963-969. + IhS XIS RЄX' RЄϚNANTIhm, bust of Christ facing, wearing nimbus cruciger with two pellets in each arm, pallium and colobium, raising right hand in benediction, book of Gospels cradled in left arm / + ΘЄOTOC' Ь' HΘ' hICHF' dЄSP', half-length facing busts of the nimbate Virgin Mary (on left), wearing stola and maphorium, and Nicephorus II (on right), wearing loros and crown with pendilia, jointly holding patriarchal cross with pellet on shaft between them; M-Θ flanking Virgin Mary. Sear 1778. Well centered and a clear strike. One of the greatest generals of his age, Nicephorus Phocas led the armada that reclaimed Crete for Byzantium after 130 years of Arab rule. He followed up by annexing Cyprus and capturing Aleppo. These stupendous victories led the army, following the death of Romanus II in March AD 963, to acclaim Nicephorus as Emperor. Returning to Constantinople, he married Theophano, the widow of Romanus II, and proclaimed himself protector of her two young sons Basil II and Constantine VIII, who became subordinate Emperors. Nicephorus continued the offensive against the Caliphate, which fell back on all fronts before the disciplined Byzantine forces. Theophano, however, found him physically repulsive, remote and austere, and sought refuge in the arms of a dashing soldier, John Tzimisces. Together they plotted and carried out the murder of Nicephorus in December of AD 969. It is during this reign that the term "solidus" is replaced by "histamenon nomisma" as a name for the standard Byzantine gold coin. A second, slightly lighter denomination, the "tetarteron nomisma," was also introduced. https://coins.ha.com/itm/ancients/byzantine/ancients-nicephorus-ii-phocas-ad-963-969-av-histamenon-nomisma-21mm-6h-anacs-au-58/a/61386-24165.s?type=DA-DMC-CoinArchives-WorldCoins-61386-04212024 HID02906262019 © 2024 Heritage Auctions | All Rights Reserved |  |
