| Heritage World Coin Auctions > Showcase Auction 61460 | Auction date: 28 January 2025 |
| Lot number: 21050 Price realized: 2,200 USD (Approx. 2,096 EUR) Note: Prices do not include buyer's fees. | |
| Lot description: Ancients Theophilus (AD 829-842). AV solidus (20mm, 4.47 gm, 6h). NGC AU 5/5 - 2/5, edge marks, brushed. Constantinople, AD 829-830. * ΘЄOFI-LOS ЬASILЄ', crowned bust of Theophilus facing, wearing slight beard and loros, cruciform scepter in left hand, globus cruciger in right / CVRIЄ ЬOHΘHtO SOdOVLO * Є, patriarchal cross set upon three steps. Sear 1655. Second emperor of the Amorian dynasty, Theophilus was carefully educated by his father Michael II and acquired a taste for scholarship. An admirer of Arab culture, he sent a magnificent embassy to the Caliph of Baghdad, which was graciously received. Nonetheless, the Arabs launched raids into Byzantine territory throughout the reign, one of which destroyed the emperor's hometown of Amorium in AD 838. Theophilus sought to revive learning within the Empire and brought scholars to Constantinople who would later establish the university under his successor. A fervent iconoclast, he was the last emperor to persecute those who venerated sacred images. Nevertheless, he was a careful and judicious ruler whose administrative reforms strengthened the state. Upon his death in AD 842, power passed to his wife Theodora as regent for his infant son Michael III; she soon ended the persecution and effectively closed the divisive iconoclastic era. www.HA.com/TexasAuctioneerLicenseNotice https://coins.ha.com/itm/ancients/byzantine/theophilus-ad-829-842-av-solidus-20mm-447-gm-6h-ngc-au-5-5-2-5-edge-marks-brushed/p/61460-25001.s?type=DA-DMC-CoinArchives-WorldCoins-61460-01282025 HID02906262019 © 2024 Heritage Auctions | All Rights Reserved Certification number: NGC 8214046003 |  |
Match 1:
| Heritage World Coin Auctions > Showcase Auction 61460 | Auction date: 28 January 2025 |
| Lot number: 21049 Price realized: 900 USD (Approx. 857 EUR) Note: Prices do not include buyer's fees. | |
| Lot description: Ancients Theophilus (AD 829-842). AV solidus (20mm, 4.19 gm, 6h). NGC Choice VF 5/5 - 3/5, brushed, clipped. Constantinople, AD 830/1-840. *ΘЄOFI-LOS bASILЄ Θ, bust of Theophilus facing, with short beard, wearing chlamys and crown surmounted by cross, patriarchal cross in right hand, akakia in left / + mIXAHL S COnStAntIh', facing busts of deceased father Michael II (on left), with short beard, and deceased son Constantine (on right), beardless, each wearing chlamys and crown surmounted by cross; cross in field above. Sear 1653. Theophilus was the last and most radical iconoclast to rule the Byzantine Empire. He was known to brand his own iconoclastic poetry on the foreheads of monks who defied his religious policies and continued to use icons as a part of their worship. Interestingly, his wife Theodora was a secret iconodule. Throughout their marriage, she kept her views secret for her own safety. The empress would often send their children to live with their grandmothers, both of them also secret iconodules, where they were privately taught the veneration of sacred icons. The ever-determined and strong-willed Theophilus remained oblivious to it all. As soon as Theophilus died, Theodora became ruler of the empire as regent for their two-year old son Michael III. The following year, Theodora convoked a group of clerics and officials who restored the veneration of icons. Iconoclasm would never again be official imperial policy and all but ceased to exist in Eastern Christianity (the next major somewhat iconoclastic movement within Christianity would be Protestantism). This important event is celebrated in Eastern churches on the first Sunday of Lent as the Feast of Orthodoxy. Theodora governed the empire quite effectively for fourteen years until Michael came of age. Many historians argue that the tide of the conflict between the Byzantines and Arabs began to turn in the former's favor under the steady guidance of Theodora. She was later canonized by the Orthodox church for her contributions in reinstating icon veneration. Theophilus' radical iconoclasm was most unpopular in the West, where the doctrine had never enjoyed even the slightest support. Thus, he was disliked by the citizens of the Byzantine possessions in Italy, including Syracuse, where this coin was minted. www.HA.com/TexasAuctioneerLicenseNotice https://coins.ha.com/itm/ancients/byzantine/theophilus-ad-829-842-av-solidus-20mm-419-gm-6h-ngc-choice-vf-5-5-3-5-brushed-clipped/p/61460-14002.s?type=DA-DMC-CoinArchives-WorldCoins-61460-01282025 HID02906262019 © 2024 Heritage Auctions | All Rights Reserved Certification number: NGC 8213833005 |  |
Match 2:
| Heritage World Coin Auctions > NYINC Signature Sale 3122 | Auction date: 21 January 2025 |
| Lot number: 34291 Price realized: 1,000 USD (Approx. 962 EUR) Note: Prices do not include buyer's fees. | |
| Lot description: Ancients Theophilus (AD 829-842). AV solidus (21mm, 4.25 gm, 6h). NGC Choice AU 5/5 - 3/5, edge filing, brushed. Constantinople, AD 830/1-840. *ΘЄOFI-LOS bASILЄ Θ, bust of Theophilus facing, with short beard, wearing chlamys and crown surmounted by cross, patriarchal cross in right hand, akakia in left / + mIXAHL S COnStAntIh', facing busts of deceased father Michael II (on left), with short beard, and deceased son Constantine (on right), beardless, each wearing chlamys and crown surmounted by cross; cross in field above. Sear 1653. Well struck with honey toning. www.HA.com/TexasAuctioneerLicenseNotice https://coins.ha.com/itm/ancients/byzantine/byzantine-theophilus-ad-829-842-av-solidus-21mm-425-gm-6h-ngc-choice-au-5-5-3-5-edge-filing-brushed/a/3122-34291.s?type=DA-DMC-CoinArchives-WorldCoins-3122-01212025 HID02906262019 © 2024 Heritage Auctions | All Rights Reserved Certification number: NGC 8213833004 |  |
Match 3:
| Heritage World Coin Auctions > Showcase Auction 61495 | Auction date: 21 April 2025 |
| Lot number: 23045 Price realized: 800 USD (Approx. 703 EUR) Note: Prices do not include buyer's fees. | |
| Lot description: Ancients Theophilus (AD 829-842). AV solidus (20mm, 4.27 gm, 7h). NGC VF 5/5 - 2/5, smoothing, clipped, brushed, bent. Constantinople, AD 830/1-840. *ΘЄOFI-LOS bASILЄ Θ, bust of Theophilus facing, with short beard, wearing chlamys and crown surmounted by cross, patriarchal cross in right hand, akakia in left / + mIXAHL S COnStAntIh', facing busts of deceased father Michael II (on left), with short beard, and deceased son Constantine (on right), beardless, each wearing chlamys and crown surmounted by cross; cross in field above. Sear 1653. Theophilus was the last and most radical iconoclast to rule the Byzantine Empire. He was known to brand his own iconoclastic poetry on the foreheads of monks who defied his religious policies and continued to use icons as a part of their worship. Interestingly, his wife Theodora was a secret iconodule. Throughout their marriage, she kept her views secret for her own safety. The empress would often send their children to live with their grandmothers, both of them also secret iconodules, where they were privately taught the veneration of sacred icons. The ever-determined and strong-willed Theophilus remained oblivious to it all. As soon as Theophilus died, Theodora became ruler of the empire as regent for their two-year old son Michael III. The following year, Theodora convoked a group of clerics and officials who restored the veneration of icons. Iconoclasm would never again be official imperial policy and all but ceased to exist in Eastern Christianity (the next major somewhat iconoclastic movement within Christianity would be Protestantism). This important event is celebrated in Eastern churches on the first Sunday of Lent as the Feast of Orthodoxy. Theodora governed the empire quite effectively for fourteen years until Michael came of age. Many historians argue that the tide of the conflict between the Byzantines and Arabs began to turn in the former's favor under the steady guidance of Theodora. She was later canonized by the Orthodox church for her contributions in reinstating icon veneration. Theophilus' radical iconoclasm was most unpopular in the West, where the doctrine had never enjoyed even the slightest support. Thus, he was disliked by the citizens of the Byzantine possessions in Italy, including Syracuse, where this coin was minted. www.HA.com/TexasAuctioneerLicenseNotice https://coins.ha.com/itm/ancients/byzantine/byzantine-theophilus-ad-829-842-av-solidus-20mm-427-gm-7h-ngc-vf-5-5-2-5-smoothing-clipped-brushed-ben/a/61495-23045.s?type=DA-DMC-CoinArchives-WorldCoins-61495-04212025 HID02906262019 © 2024 Heritage Auctions | All Rights Reserved Certification number: NGC 8243317004 |  |
Match 4:
| Heritage World Coin Auctions > Showcase Auction 61460 | Auction date: 28 January 2025 |
| Lot number: 21026 Price realized: 750 USD (Approx. 714 EUR) Note: Prices do not include buyer's fees. | |
| Lot description: Ancients Constans II Pogonatus (AD 641-668). AV solidus (20mm, 4.46 gm, 6h). NGC AU 5/5 - 2/5, brushed, marks. Constantinople, 5th officina. d N CONStAN-tINЧS P P AV, bust of Constans II facing, beardless and with large head, wearing chlamys and crown surmounted by cross, globus cruciger in right hand / VICTORIA-AVϚЧ Є, cross potent on three steps; CONOB below. Sear 938. www.HA.com/TexasAuctioneerLicenseNotice https://coins.ha.com/itm/ancients/byzantine/constans-ii-pogonatus-ad-641-668-av-solidus-20mm-446-gm-6h-ngc-au-5-5-2-5-brushed-marks/p/61460-18003.s?type=DA-DMC-CoinArchives-WorldCoins-61460-01282025 HID02906262019 © 2024 Heritage Auctions | All Rights Reserved Certification number: NGC 8214131006 |  |
Match 5:
| Heritage World Coin Auctions > NYINC Signature Sale 3122 | Auction date: 21 January 2025 |
| Lot number: 34286 Price realized: 3,200 USD (Approx. 3,077 EUR) Note: Prices do not include buyer's fees. | |
| Lot description: Ancients Irene, Sole Reign (AD 797-802). AV solidus (20mm, 4.38 gm, 6h). NGC AU 4/5 - 2/5, edge bend. 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. Overall bright and velvety surfaces with areas of light deposits. www.HA.com/TexasAuctioneerLicenseNotice https://coins.ha.com/itm/ancients/byzantine/byzantine-irene-sole-reign-ad-797-802-av-solidus-20mm-438-gm-6h-ngc-au-4-5-2-5-edge-bend/a/3122-34286.s?type=DA-DMC-CoinArchives-WorldCoins-3122-01212025 HID02906262019 © 2024 Heritage Auctions | All Rights Reserved Certification number: NGC 8242923009 |  |
