| Savoca Numismatik GmbH & Co. KG > Herakles Auction 2 | Auction date: 3 March 2025 |
| Lot number: 143 Price realized: 850 EUR (Approx. 884 USD) Note: Prices do not include buyer's fees. | |
| Lot description: Byzantine Basil I the Macedonian, with Constantine AD 867-886. Constantinople Solidus AV 20 mm, 4,46 g + IhS XPS REX REGNANTIЧM *, Christ, nimbate, seated facing on lyre-backed throne, wearing tunic and himation, raising right hand in blessing and holding Book of Gospels in left / BASILIOS ET COnStAnt AЧGGb', facing busts of Basil on left, bearded, wearing crown and loros and Constantine on right, beardless, wearing crown and chlamys; both holding patriarchal cross between them. Good Very Fine Sear 1704; Ratto 1858; DOC 2b; MIB 1. Ex Auction Spink & Son Ltd, London / Galerie des Monnaies SA, Genève, London, 10. October 1977, Lot 751. Basil I, known as Basil the Macedonian, was Byzantine emperor from AD 867 to 886 and the founder of the Macedonian dynasty, which ruled the Byzantine Empire for nearly two centuries. His rise to power is one of the most remarkable in Byzantine history, as he ascended from humble beginnings to become emperor. Born around AD 811 in the theme of Macedonia, Basil was of peasant or possibly Armenian descent. His early life involved hard labor, but through his physical strength and intelligence, he gained the favor of influential figures at court, including Emperor Michael III. Basil became a trusted companion of Michael III and eventually married Eudokia Ingerina, the emperor's mistress, strengthening his position at court. In AD 866, Michael III declared Basil co-emperor. However, their relationship deteriorated, and in AD 867, Basil orchestrated Michael's assassination, becoming sole emperor. As emperor, Basil I focused on strengthening the empire internally and externally. He implemented significant legal reforms by initiating a revision of Justinian's legal code, resulting in the Basilika, a major legal compilation that systematized and updated Byzantine law. His reign was marked by efforts to curb corruption and restore imperial authority over the provinces. Basil also actively supported the Orthodox Church, aligning with Patriarch Photius and reinforcing religious unity within the empire. Militarily, Basil I achieved notable successes. He secured the empire's frontiers, particularly against Arab forces. His naval campaigns helped defend Byzantine territories in the Mediterranean, and his efforts against the Paulician heretics in Asia Minor strengthened internal security. Basil I ruled alongside his son, Constantine, who was crowned co-emperor but had little influence due to his young age. Constantine died in AD 879, leaving Basil's second son, Leo VI, as his heir. Basil reportedly had a strained relationship with Leo, partly due to rumors that Leo was actually the biological son of Michael III. In terms of coinage, Basil I's coins often depicted Christ on the obverse, symbolizing divine legitimacy, while the reverse showed Basil and Constantine together, emphasizing dynastic continuity. This imagery reinforced the legitimacy of his rule and the unity of the imperial family. Basil I died in AD 886, reportedly from a hunting accident, and was succeeded by Leo VI. His reign laid the foundation for the Macedonian Renaissance, a period of military strength, legal reform, and cultural revival, securing his legacy as one of Byzantium's most effective rulers. Starting price: 700 EUR |  |
Match 1:
| Savoca Numismatik GmbH & Co. KG > Online Auction 261 | Silver | Auction date: 30 March 2025 |
| Lot number: 722 Price realized: 460 EUR (Approx. 497 USD) Note: Prices do not include buyer's fees. | |
| Lot description: Constantine VII Porphyrogenitus with Romanus II AD 913-959. Constantinople Solidus AV 20 mm, 4,34 g + IhS XIS REX REGNANTIЧm, facing bust of Christ Pantokrator, wearing tunic, himation and a cross nimbus with three pellets in the arms, raising right hand in benediction and holding Gospel Book in his left / COnSTAnT' CЄ ROmAn' AЧGG bR, crowned facing busts of Constantine, bearded and wearing loros on the left, and Romanus, beardless and wearing chlamys on the right, both holding, between them with their right hands, a long patriarchal cross, set on globe. Very Fine, holed and traces of mounting Sear 1751. Starting price: 150 EUR |  |
Match 2:
| Savoca Numismatik GmbH & Co. KG > Online Auction 261 | Silver | Auction date: 30 March 2025 |
| Lot number: 707 Price realized: 850 EUR (Approx. 918 USD) Note: Prices do not include buyer's fees. | |
| Lot description: Heraclius with Heraclius Constantine AD 610-641. Constantinople Solidus AV 21 mm, 4,46 g dd NN hERACLIЧS ET hERA CONST P P AV, crowned, draped and short-bearded bust of Heraclius facing, on the left; crowned and draped bust of Heraclius Constantine facing, beardless, on the right; above, cross / VICTORIA AVGЧ I / CONOB Cross potent on base and three steps. Extremely Fine Sear 738. Starting price: 200 EUR |  |
Match 3:
| Savoca Numismatik GmbH & Co. KG > Herakles Auction 2 | Auction date: 3 March 2025 |
| Lot number: 126 Price realized: 550 EUR (Approx. 572 USD) Note: Prices do not include buyer's fees. | |
| Lot description: Roman Imperial Zeno AD 474-491. Constantinople Solidus AV 20 mm, 4,41 g D N ZENO PERP AVG, pearl-diademed, helmeted and cuirassed bust facing slightly to right, holding spear and shield decorated with horseman motif / VICTORIA AVGGG Є, Victory standing facing, head to left, holding long jewelled cross; star in right field, CONOB in exergue. Good Very Fine Depeyrot 108/1; RIC 910. Zeno was Byzantine Emperor from AD 474 to 475 and again from AD 476 to 491. His reign was one of the most tumultuous in Byzantine history, marked by internal revolts, external pressures, and his pivotal role in the transition that ended the Western Roman Empire. Zeno was born as Tarasis in Isauria, a rugged region in southern Asia Minor. His Isaurian heritage made him an outsider to the traditional Constantinopolitan elite, which contributed to his unpopularity during his reign. Zeno rose to prominence as a military commander under Emperor Leo I, who married him to his daughter Ariadne, aligning Zeno with the imperial family. Zeno's first reign began in AD 474 after the death of his young son, Emperor Leo II, whom Zeno had co-ruled with for a brief period. However, opposition to Zeno's rule, fueled by his Isaurian background and political missteps, led to his deposition in AD 475 by a usurper, Basiliscus. Zeno fled to Isauria, where he regrouped and gathered support, eventually reclaiming the throne in AD 476. Zeno's second reign is most notable for the events surrounding the fall of the Western Roman Empire. In AD 476, the barbarian chieftain Odoacer deposed the last Western Roman emperor, Romulus Augustulus, and sent the imperial regalia to Zeno in Constantinople. Rather than challenging Odoacer, Zeno acknowledged him as ruler of Italy while maintaining the fiction of a united Roman Empire under his authority. Zeno also dealt with significant internal revolts, including the rebellion of the Isaurian general Illus and challenges from other ambitious generals and governors. Additionally, Zeno faced external threats, including raids by the Ostrogoths and pressures from other barbarian groups. Religiously, Zeno issued the *Henotikon* in AD 482, an attempt to reconcile the Chalcedonian and Monophysite factions within Christianity. While the *Henotikon* temporarily reduced tensions in some regions, it alienated both the Roman papacy and staunch Chalcedonians, contributing to the Acacian Schism between the Eastern and Western Churches. Despite his many challenges, Zeno's reign stabilized the Byzantine Empire during a period of immense upheaval. He managed to maintain the empire's integrity and laid the groundwork for future rulers. Zeno died in AD 491, and his widow, Ariadne, played a key role in selecting his successor, Anastasius I. Starting price: 200 EUR |  |
Match 4:
| Savoca Numismatik GmbH & Co. KG > Herakles Auction 2 | Auction date: 3 March 2025 |
| Lot number: 123 Price realized: 950 EUR (Approx. 988 USD) Note: Prices do not include buyer's fees. | |
| Lot description: Roman Imperial Leo I AD 457-474. Struck AD 457-468. Constantinople Solidus AV 20 mm, 4,41 g D N LEO PERPET AVG, helmeted, diademed and cuirassed bust facing, holding shield and spear / VICTORIA AVGGG H, Victory standing left, holding long jewelled cross; star in right field; CONOB in exergue. Nearly Mint State RIC 605. Leo I, known as "Leo the Thracian," was Byzantine Emperor from AD 457 to 474. His reign was significant for establishing a stronger imperial authority and navigating the complex dynamics of the late Roman world. Born in Thrace around AD 401, Leo was a career soldier who rose to power with the support of Aspar, a powerful Gothic general and kingmaker within the Byzantine court. Leo was crowned emperor on February 7, AD 457, becoming the first emperor to be crowned by the Patriarch of Constantinople, a precedent that underscored the growing role of the Church in imperial politics. Early in his reign, Leo relied heavily on Aspar's influence, but tensions between the emperor and the general grew as Leo sought to assert his independence from Gothic dominance. To counterbalance Aspar's power, Leo promoted Isaurian soldiers and leaders, including Zeno, who would later become emperor. One of Leo's most notable acts was his involvement in the Western Roman Empire's affairs. In AD 467, he appointed Anthemius as Western emperor, attempting to stabilize the declining western territories. Leo also launched a massive military expedition in AD 468 against the Vandals in North Africa, aimed at recovering lost Roman provinces and restoring imperial authority. The campaign, however, ended in a disastrous defeat, with heavy losses of men and ships, significantly straining the empire's finances. Domestically, Leo strengthened his authority by eliminating rivals. In AD 471, he orchestrated the assassination of Aspar and his sons, ending their influence and securing his rule from internal threats. Despite the violent nature of this power struggle, Leo's actions allowed him to consolidate control and establish the principle of imperial sovereignty over military commanders. Leo is remembered for his efforts to defend and maintain the empire's territories, as well as for his role in the theological controversies of his time. A staunch supporter of the Council of Chalcedon (AD 451), Leo upheld its decisions against Monophysitism, reinforcing the orthodox position within the empire. Leo died on January 18, AD 474, and was succeeded by his young grandson Leo II, who briefly ruled before co-reigning with his father, Zeno. Leo I's reign marked a turning point in Byzantine history, as he strengthened the emperor's independence from military factions and laid the groundwork for a more centralized and resilient empire. Starting price: 500 EUR |  |
Match 5:
| Savoca Numismatik GmbH & Co. KG > Online Auction 261 | Silver | Auction date: 30 March 2025 |
| Lot number: 683 Price realized: 500 EUR (Approx. 540 USD) Note: Prices do not include buyer's fees. | |
| Lot description: Justin II AD 565-578. Constantinople Solidus AV 22 mm, 4,46 g D N IVSTINVS P P AVG, helmeted, draped, and cuirassed bust facing, holding crowning Victory on globus and shield decorated with soldier on horseback motif / VICTORIA AVGGG I, Constantinopolis seated facing on throne, head right, holding sceptre and globus cruciger; star in left field, CONOB in exergue. Very Fine Sear 345. Starting price: 150 EUR |  |
