ewomack Posted October 19, 2022 · Supporter Share Posted October 19, 2022 Leo VI, the Byzantine emperor known as "The Wise" or "The Philosopher." He apparently possessed plenty of book smarts, but his reign doesn't appear particularly notable otherwise. His codification of law in Greek does seem to have laid the basis for legal theory in medieval Europe, so he did influence later thinkers. Some also refer to him as the "Henry VIII of Byzantium," since it took four wives to produce an heir. All of this alienated him from the ecclesiastical authorities and they banned him from St. Sofia. At least he didn't experience a violent death like so many other Byzantine emperors. I really like the detail on this particular coin, especially on the chlamys. About the type itself, Sear says: "[t]his appears to have been issued in greater quantities than almost any other individual type in the Byzantine series." Given that, please post your Leo VI coins! Leo VI (AD 886-912); Constantinople; Follis; 7.67g. Obv: +LEOn bAS - ILEVS ROM' Bust facing wearing crown and chlamys, holding akakia in l. hand. Rev: Inscription in four lines: +LEOn / Eh ΘEO bA / SILEVS R / OmEOh, Berk-918, Sear 1729. 8 1 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JeandAcre Posted October 19, 2022 · Member Share Posted October 19, 2022 (edited) Rats, @ewomack, I don't have pics of mine (that's true of the first several years of collecting), but your example is really exceptional. It's my single favorite follis type from before the anonymous ones. And, Yeah, it's always cool when a monarch (even a Byzantine one, where you might expect them) is as literarily accomplished, never mind literate, as Leo was. Another example from the same century is Constantine VII Porphyrogenitus. Always wanted a follis of his, for that reason. Edited October 19, 2022 by JeandAcre 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
quant.geek Posted October 21, 2022 · Member Share Posted October 21, 2022 A very nice follis! I have several of these as it was one of the first types I collected and a bunch of them came in a large lot: Byzantine Empire: Leo VI the Wise (886-912) Æ Follis, Constantinople (Sear 1729; DOC 8) Obv: +LЄOҺ ЬAS-ILЄVS ROM'; Bust of Leo VI with short beard, facing, wearing chlamys and crown with cross; on right shoulder, roundel with central pellet; holding akakia in left hand Rev: +LЄOҺ / ЄҺ ΘЄO ЬA / SILЄVS R / OMЄOҺ Byzantine Empire: Leo VI the Wise (886-912) Æ Follis, Cherson (Sear-1731; DOC 9) Obv: Large ΛЄ Rev: Cross crosslet set on two steps; • to either side 6 1 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dougsmit Posted October 21, 2022 · Member Share Posted October 21, 2022 Mine came in 1992 from a local coin store in Alexandria VA before I really had interest in Byzantines but thought the patina was pretty. 8 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ewomack Posted October 22, 2022 · Supporter Author Share Posted October 22, 2022 On 10/19/2022 at 2:42 PM, JeandAcre said: And, Yeah, it's always cool when a monarch (even a Byzantine one, where you might expect them) is as literarily accomplished, never mind literate, as Leo was. Another example from the same century is Constantine VII Porphyrogenitus. Always wanted a follis of his, for that reason. Thank you for mentioning Constantine VII's literary bent, I did not know that about him. A particularly pleasing follis of his features him and Zoe flanking a long cross. I found an amazing example of one online, though it had already sold for an equally amazing price. Nice examples seem difficult to find, from what I can tell. I'll have to have my antennae lengthened. For the same literary reasons, I also have coins of Marcus Aurelius and Julian II (which I've shared here numerous times now). I've read works by both of them. Marcus Aurelius. AR Denarius. Struck 161/2 AD. M ANTONINVS AVG, bare head right / CONCORD AVG TR P XVII, COS III in exergue, Concordia seated left, holding patera, resting left elbow on statuette of Spes set on base. 18mm 3.4gm Julian II (360 - 363) AE1 (BI Maiorina); Thessalonika Mint; Obv: DN FL CL IVLIANUS PF AUG; Diademed, draped and cuirassed bust right; Rev: SECVRITAS REIPVB; Bull standing right, two stars above;*TESΓ in exergue; Ref: RIC 226 9 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GordianAppreciator101 Posted October 22, 2022 · Member Share Posted October 22, 2022 (edited) My Leo VI, with an extra Alexander for good measure. Like Marcus Aurelius and Commodus, Leo VI's successor was... less than adequate, dying less than a year after beginning his sole reign apparently after a life full of vices. Edited October 22, 2022 by GordianAppreciator101 Typo 8 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ewomack Posted October 23, 2022 · Supporter Author Share Posted October 23, 2022 (edited) On 10/22/2022 at 5:17 AM, GordianAppreciator101 said: My Leo VI, with an extra Alexander for good measure. Like Marcus Aurelius and Commodus, Leo VI's successor was... less than adequate, dying less than a year after beginning his sole reign apparently after a life full of vices. That's a very nice example of that particular type! I really like the obverse. I haven't seen one as nice as that out in the wild yet, particularly for Leo's portrait. But I've been looking for Byzantine coins for only a few months now. Maybe I'll get as lucky as you did. Thanks for posting it! Edited October 23, 2022 by ewomack 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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