| Classical Numismatic Group > Electronic Auction 582 | Auction date: 5 March 2025 |
| Lot number: 791 Price realized: 700 USD (Approx. 668 EUR) Note: Prices do not include buyer's fees. | Show similar lots on CoinArchives Find similar lots in upcoming auctions on  |
| Lot description: Theodore Gabras. Ruler of Trebizond, 1075-1098. Æ Follis (21mm, 2.93 g, 7h). Trebizond mint. Facing bust of Christ Pantokrator with nimbus of three bars / Cross potent set upon one step; A - Λ - B - P in quarters. S. Bendall, "The mint of Trebizond under Alexius I and the Gabrades," in NC 137 (1977), Issue 13b. Dark green and red-brown patina, a couple of light scratches. VF. Extremely rare. Only six known to Bendall and with none in CoinArchives. At the disastrous battle of Manzikert on August 26th 1071, the Byzantine forces under the command of emperor Romanus IV were decisively defeated and Romanus himself taken prisoner by the Seljuk Turks. Following the disaster, the eastern city of Trebizond was captured. It was later recovered by the effective general Theodore Gabras in 1075 during the ineffective reign of emperor Michael VII. So far removed from the tumult of the court of Constantinople, Trebizond was relatively insulated from the tumultuous years that followed, which included the downfall of Michael VII, the brief reign of Nicephorus III, and the three subsequent revolts of Nicephorus Bryennius, Basilacius, and Melissenus. However, once Nicephorus III's capable general Alexius was crowned as emperor Alexius I, the new Comnenian dynasty took a more assertive role along the eastern frontier. After having been left alone to rule his fiefdom for the past 6 years, Alexius ensured Theodore's loyalty by holding his son hostage in Constantinople. A rescue attempt orchestrated by Theodore in 1091/2 proved unsuccessful. This, however, made Theodore even less inclined to heed the central government in Constantinople and he largely pursued his own agenda and policies while in power in Trebizond. During Theodore's rule of Trebizond, a number of interesting issues were stuck there, such as this rare follis. Ultimately, Theodore's lordship of Trebizond came to an end when he was captured and killed by Turkish forces in 1098. Estimate: 200 USD |  |
