The epic Byzantine portrait thread

[sand]

Constantine V was the Byzantine Emperor from 741 AD to 775 AD. The following map shows the Byzantine Empire at the end of Constantine V's reign in 775 AD. During Constantine V's reign, the Byzantine Empire lost the cities of Rome and Ravenna, but gained a small amount of territory on the western coast of the Black Sea.

Here are 2 of my Constantine V 40 nummi bronze coins, both minted in Syracuse. For the Byzantine 40 nummi bronze coins, the Constantine V portraits continue the "equilateral triangle face" era, which I also called the "heart shaped heads" era. For Constantine V, the Byzantine 40 nummi bronze coins shrank, to an even smaller size and weight. For the Syracuse mint, the 40 nummi bronze flans were usually too small, so that, usually the devices and/or legends were truncated. Coin 1 has a single portrait of Constantine V on the obverse, and a single portrait of Constantine V's son Leo IV on the reverse. Coin 2 has portraits of Constantine V and his son Leo IV on the obverse, and a single portrait of Constantine V's father Leo III on the reverse. The portraits are very abstract. Therefore, the faces of the 3 men appear to be identical on the coins, except for the lack of a beard on Leo IV. On the coin portraits, all of the beards are short beards.

Constantine V AE 40 Nummi Follis. Minted 751 AD To 775 AD. Syracuse Mint. Sear 1568. DO 18. Maximum Diameter 16.1 mm. Weight 2.21 grams. Obverse : Constantine V Standing Facing Front, Short Beard, Wearing Crown With Cross On Top, Holding Akakia In Right Hand, "K-W-N-S" On Left, "Delta-E-C-Pi" On Right. Reverse : Leo IV Standing Facing Front, Beardless, Wearing Crown With Cross On Top, Holding Akakia In Right Hand, "Lambda-E-O-N" On Left, "N-E-O-V" On Right.

Constantine V AE 40 Nummi Follis. Minted 751 AD To 775 AD. Syracuse Mint. Sear 1569. DO 19. Maximum Diameter 19.1 mm. Weight 3.14 grams. Obverse : On Left Constantine V Standing Facing Front, Short Beard, Wearing Crown With Cross On Top, Holding Akakia In Right Hand, On Right Leo IV Standing Facing Front, Beardless, Wearing Crown With Cross On Top, Holding Akakia In Right Hand, On Left "K", On Right "Lambda-E-O-N". Reverse : Leo III Standing Facing Front, Short Beard, Wearing Crown With Cross On Top, Holding Cross Potent In Right Hand, On Left "Lambda-E-O-N", On Right "Delta-E-C-Pi".

EDIT : The map in this post, is a snapshot of the nice Youtube video titled "The History of the Byzantine Empire : Every Month".

Edited July 19, 2023 by sand

[Jims,Coins]

 

Minted at Syracuse during the reign of Constantine V  between 18 June 741 - 14 September 775. Obv. Constantine V, bearded (on l.) and Leo IV, beardless (on r.) stg. facing, each wearing crown and chlamys, and holding akakia; between thier heads, cross; to l., K; to r., A/E/W/N. Rev. Leo III, bearded, stg. facing, wearing crown and chlamys, and holding cross potent; to l., A/E/O/N; to r., A/E/C/N/. BCVS #1569 CBE #23 pg. 143

[voulgaroktonou]

Leo IV the Khazar, emperor (775–80); his father Constantine V crowned him co-emperor in 751, and in Dec. 769, he married an Athenian, Irene, of whom we shall hear more later. Soon after his accession, Leo crowned their son Constantine VI as co-emperor. He campaigned against the Arabs, sending forces into Syria in 776 and 778,  but could not prevent major attacks into Asia Minor in 776, 779, and 780. Leo supported Iconoclasm but aggressively persecuted Iconophiles only in Aug. 780, when he had a number of court officials beaten, tonsured, and imprisoned. He died of a fever while campaigning against the Bulgarians.

Mint of both coins is Constantinople

Follis, 776-778. 4.61 gr. 23.5 mm. 6 hr. Sear 1586; DO 4; BNP 1-9.

Obv: Busts of Leo IV on left, bearded, and Constantine VI on right, beardless. Both wear crown with cross and chlamys. Rev: Bearded busts of Leo III on left and Constantine V on right, above palustrade; both wear crown with cross and loros. To left and right, B A. Below, mark of value between X N. A below.

Half follis, 776-778. 1.82 gr. 17.9 mm. 6 hr. Sear 1588; DO 5; BNP 10; BM 14.

Obverse and reverse all as on the follis above, save B A flanking figures on the reverse is lacking.

By this time, the convention of M standing for 40 nummi has been forgotten, so the traditional mark of value is used for both denominations, which can only be distinguished by size and weight.

 

Mint of both coins is Constantinople

Follis, 778-780. 4.53 gr. 24.9 mm. 6 hr. Sear 1587; DO 6; BM 15-17; T. 13; R. 1773

Obv: Leo IV on left, bearded, and Constantine VI on right, beardless, seated on double throne. Both wear crown with cross and chlamys.

Rev: Busts of Leo III on left and Constantine V on right, above palustrade; both are bearded, and wear crown with cross and loros. Below, mark of value between X N. A below.

Half follis, 778-780. 1.91 gr. 22.7 mm. 6 hr. Sear 1589; DO 7. Obverse and reverse all as on the follis.

Grierson, in DOC 3:1, p. 325 writes that this class with seated figures dates to 778, when “a major victory over the Arabs was celebrated with exceptional splendor and the two emperors showed themselves seated side by side to the crowd.”

By this time, the convention of M standing for 40 nummi has been forgotten, so the traditional mark of value is used for both denominations, which can only be distinguished by size and weight.

 

Mint of Syracuse,.

Follis, 778-780. 2.55 gr. 20.6 mm. 6 hr. Sear 1590; DO 8; T. 14; Ricotti 197. 

Obv: Leo IV on left, bearded and Constantine VI, on right, beardless,  enthroned facing on double throne with curved arms. Each wears a crown and chlamys and holds in right hand an akakia. Although the arms of the throne are visible, the flan is too small to take the entire die.

Rev: Busts of Leo III on left and Constantine V on right, above palustrade; both are bearded, and wear crown with cross and loros. Beneath, CIK/

Edited July 3, 2023 by voulgaroktonou
improved spacing

[Valentinian]

Leo IV (775-780) with Constantine VI (from 776)

23 mm. 4.35 grams.
Reverse: Facing busts of Leo III and ConstantineV.
Sear 1586

24-23 mm. 4.78 grams.
Leo IV (775-780) with Constantine VI (from 776). No legend, but there is a solidus just like this obverse design with an identifying legend.
Reverse: Facing busts of Leo III and ConstantineV.
Sear 1587

 

[Broucheion]

Hi All,

I highly recommend the Franklin's World cartoons at the CoinsWeekly site. https://coinsweekly.com/category/cartoon_en/ . This week's is appropriate, if a little late (since I have no Byzantine coins that apply).

- Broucheion

Edited July 4, 2023 by Broucheion

[ValiantKnight]

I wonder if the resemblance (beard, long hippie-style hair) of the emperors of this era to Jesus was intentional or just coincidental (perhaps just the popular style at the time)?

Edited July 4, 2023 by ValiantKnight

[Severus Alexander]

Cramming two slots into one post again!  Here's a rare Constantine V half follis, SB 1559, similar to the 1558 posted above except he's holding a cross potent instead of globus cruciger:

 

I'd love to get one with the double portrait (with Leo IV)... the very last half follis issued with the K symbol. Very cool, @voulgaroktonou!

Here's my Syracuse for Constantine V:

The coin above shows Leo IV as junior emperor, here he is as senior with the whole family:

^ This coin has some of my best portraits from the period. (ex Christov family collection)

[voulgaroktonou]

6 hours ago, Severus Alexander said:

Cramming two slots into one post again!  Here's a rare Constantine V half follis, SB 1559, similar to the 1558 posted above except he's holding a cross potent instead of globus cruciger:

 

I'd love to get one with the double portrait (with Leo IV)... the very last half follis issued with the K symbol. Very cool, @voulgaroktonou!

Here's my Syracuse for Constantine V:

The coin above shows Leo IV as junior emperor, here he is as senior with the whole family:

^ This coin has some of my best portraits from the period. (ex Christov family collection)

Beautiful examples, @Severus Alexander!

[voulgaroktonou]

Constantine VI, emperor (780–97). Leo IV crowned his 5 year old son Constantine VI as co-emperor in 776, but after Leo's death in 780, Constantine’s domineering mother Irene ruled as Constantine's regent for 10 years. He was an ineffectual ruler, unequal to the relentless incursions of the Arabs in the east and the Bulgarians in the west. Undermined by Irene, he was ultimately dethroned and blinded on 19 Apr. 797 with such brutality that he died shortly afterward.

Irene, empress (797–802). In 768 Constantine V brought Irene from Athens to Constantinople, where she was crowned and married to his son Leo IV. On her husband’s death in 780, Irene and her supporters were for 10 years de facto rulers of the empire during the minority of her son Constantine VI. The powerful personality of Irene had always overshadowed that of her weak son Constantine. Only an army mutiny prevented her from taking power in 790, whereupon Constantine deposed her for a brief period, until she was recalled in 792. After her exile, she returned to Constantinople and began eliminating her enemies. As the coinage shows, she quickly relegated her son to second place. In 797 she dethroned and blinded Constantine, thus becoming the first ruling Byzantine empress, but was herself toppled by Nikephoros I in 802 and exiled to Lesbos, where she died a year later.

Irene was a devoted Iconophile and in 787 she pushed forward an official condemnation of Iconoclasm at the Second Council of Nicaea. Although the movement would be resurrected early in the 9^th. century, it lacked the ferocity of its earlier manifestation under Leo III and Constantine V, and would be in due course consigned to the “dustbin of [Byzantine] history”.

 

Mint of all is Constantinople.

Follis, 790-792?, 2.62 gr. 19.9 mm. 5 hr. Sear 1596? Obverse: Busts of Constantine VI and Irene. Reverse: Busts of Constantine V, Leo III, and Leo IV behind balustrade. Below, M, flanked by X and N. Below M, A. There are two varieties to this series: on the first, Sear 1597, dated to 780-790, both Constantine and his mother hold a globus cruciger; on the second, Sear 1596, dated to Irene’s temporary fall from power between 790-792, only Constantine holds a globus cruciger; his mother has been deprived of this symbol of rule. I think mine is Sear 1596, but its condition is so abysmal, one can not be sure.

Follis, 792-797, 2.76 gr. 19 mm. 6 hr. Sear 1598; DO 7; BNP 3-6; BM 10-11; R. 1779. Berk/England sale 12/7/89, lot 308. This subsequent issue demonstrates Irene’s ascendency over her son. She holds both symbols of power, a globus cruciger and scepter cruciger, and Constantine has been removed to the reverse.

Follis, 797-802, 5.59 gr. 24.6 mm. 6 hr. Sear 1600; DO 2; BNP 1-3; BM 2; R. 1781; T. 23-24. Ex Protonotarios collection. In this final issue, Constantine having been deposed, Irene is the sole occupant of the throne.

[Valentinian]

7 hours ago, voulgaroktonou said:

Constantine VI, emperor (780–97). Leo IV crowned his 5 year old son Constantine VI as co-emperor in 776, but after Leo's death in 780, Constantine’s domineering mother Irene ruled as Constantine's regent for 10 years.

Refer to the above post for the history.

Irene takes precedence over Constantine VI on this common type:

18 mm. 3.13 grams.
Bust of Irene facing.
Smaller bust of Constantine VI over M flanked by X and N
Sear 1598

Silver miliaresion. 21 mm. 2.14 grams.
IhSUS XRISTUS ҺICA  (Jesus Christ Conquers)
COҺ/TAҺTIҺO/SSIRIҺIЄ/CΘUbA/SILIS+ (Constantine and Irene, by the grace of God, rulers)
Sear 1595
DOC 3.1 Constantine VI 4b struck "780-797"

I don't see how to fix the fonts to come out a single consistent size. Here is the menu that came up when I wrote this:

Sometimes a menu gives me the option to pick the font size. I don't know why it sometimes doesn't.
 

Edited July 6, 2023 by Valentinian
typo

[Severus Alexander]

Here's my funky-flanned Irene w/ a flat-headed Constantine VI:

On 7/5/2023 at 3:32 PM, Valentinian said:

I don't see how to fix the fonts to come out a single consistent size. Here is the menu that came up when I wrote this:

Sometimes a menu gives me the option to pick the font size. I don't know why it sometimes doesn't.

I believe when it thinks you're on mobile it gives you a reduced number of editing options, which is a problem, for sure. Maybe @Restitutor can help.

[sand]

@Jims,Coins Nice Constantine V 40 nummi bronze coin.

@voulgaroktonou A nice collection of Leo IV bronze coins. Interesting historical information about Leo IV. Interesting numismatic information about the Leo IV bronze coins. It's interesting, that the Byzantine Empire started using the large "M" on both the 20 nummi bronze coins and 40 nummi bronze coins, because the meaning of the large "M" had been forgotten. Nice Constantine VI 40 nummi bronze coins. Interesting, rare Irene 40 nummi bronze coin. Interesting historical information about Constantine VI and Irene.

@Valentinian Nice Leo IV 40 nummi bronze coins. Interesting Constantine VI bronze coin and silver miliaresion.

@Severus Alexander Nice Constantine V bronze coins. Nice Leo IV 40 nummi bronze coin. Nice Constantine VI 40 nummi bronze coin.

Constantine VI was the Byzantine Emperor from 780 AD to 797 AD. Constantine VI was only 9 years old, when his father Leo IV died and Constantine VI became Emperor in 780 AD. Therefore, Constantine VI's mother Irene controlled the Byzantine Empire as regent until 790 AD. In 790 AD, Constantine VI took control of the Byzantine Empire from his mother Irene, with the support of the military, when Constantine VI was 19 years old. Unsurprisingly for such a young Emperor, Constantine VI did a terrible job as Emperor. Constantine VI suffered military defeats, and made unwise and controversial decisions, such as blinding his loyal general Alexios Mosele, and marrying his mistress. All of this, caused Constantine VI to become unpopular. Irene organized a conspiracy against Constantine VI. In 797 AD, Constantine VI was captured and blinded by supporters of Irene, and Irene became the 1st ever Byzantine Empress Regnant in 797 AD. The following is a map of the Byzantine Empire, near the end of Constantine VI's reign in 797 AD.

Here's 1 of my Constantine VI 40 nummi bronze coins, the best one I have (the other is of the same type, but it's in worse condition, and it's less attractive to me). On the obverse is a portrait of Constantine VI's mother Irene. On the reverse is a portrait of Constantine VI, above a large M. It's interesting, that Irene's portrait is so much larger than Constantine VI's portrait, and that Irene's portrait is on the obverse. This seems to indicate, that Irene held a lot of power, during this time. Irene's portrait shows her wearing an "Empress crown" with pinnacles on top.

Constantine VI. AE 40 Nummi Follis. Minted 792 AD To 797 AD. Constantinople Mint. Sear 1598. DO 7. Maximum Diameter 21.9 mm. Weight 2.17 grams. Obverse : Irene Bust Facing Front, Wearing Loros, Wearing Crown With Cross And Pinnacles On Top, Pendilia Hanging From Crown, Holding Globus Cruciger In Right Hand, Holding Cruciform Scepter In Left Hand. Reverse : Constantine VI Bust Facing Front, Beardless, Wearing Chlamys, Wearing Crown With Cross On Top, Holding Globus Cruciger In Right Hand, Pellet On Left, Cross On Right, Pellet On Right, Large M Below, "X" To Left Of Large M, "N" To Right Of Large M, "A" Below Large M.

EDIT : The map in this post, is a snapshot of the nice Youtube video titled "The History of the Byzantine Empire : Every Month".

Edited July 19, 2023 by sand

[Ancient Coin Hunter]

To interject briefly in the flow of things - Irene was kind of a pseudo-emperor, right? Having a woman on the throne in Constantinople compelled the pope to crown Charlemagne holy roman emperor on Christmas day in 800 since it was believed a woman should not be ruling over the empire, also there were the Christological differences between the Orthodox East and Catholic West which had become more virulent over time. Back to the regularly scheduled programming.

[Valentinian]

7 hours ago, Severus Alexander said:

I believe when it thinks you're on mobile it gives you a reduced number of editing options, which is a problem, for sure.

I was on a 2023 MacBook Pro. 

We also still have the problem that the right column of this thread is wasted as blank space because of this column heading at the top right:

Short threads don't seem to have this problem. I am guessing that when a thread gets long enough this unfortunate feature kicks in. If there is a parameter for how long the thread needs to be to put that on the right side, set it to a million!
 

[voulgaroktonou]

Nikephoros I, emperor (802–11), was logothetes tou genikou (finance minister) under Irene, and upon her downfall, was raised to the throne. Although the new Basileus proved an excellent administrator whose economic and military policies strengthened the empire, his increased taxation programs earned him considerable unpopularity and some of the Byzantine sources speak of him in scathing terms.

He re-hellenized Greece by transplanting families from Asia Minor to there in 810 and extended Byzantine administration westward by creating new themes in the old province. He took the field several times against the Bulgarians, but in 811 was killed in battle with the Bulgarian khan Krum, becoming the first Roman emperor to die in battle since Valens. Krum reportedly made his skull into a drinking cup (I suspect that is the first for a Roman emperor, too. One hopes so.)  Nikephoros was succeeded (very briefly) by his son Staurakios. However, he soon afterward died of injuries he had received in the disastrous battle.

 

Follis, Constantinople, 802-3. 5.27 gr. 22.7 mm. 6 h. Sear 1606; DO 4; BM 2-3; BNP  1; T. 5; R. 1782. This issue dates to Nikephoros’ sole rule, prior to elevating his son Staurakios to the throne in Dec. 803

Solidus, Constantinople, 803-11, 4.39 gr. 19.5 mm. 6 hr. Sear 1604; DO 2c; BM 8-10; R. 1786. On this and the following coins, Staurakios appears with his father as co-Augustus; here, on the reverse.

Follis, Constantinople, 803-11, 5.59 gr. 22 mm. 6 hr. S 1607; DO 5; BNP 2-8; BM 12-14 (Leo V); R.1802(Leo V); T. 20. (Leo V). DOC 3:1, p. 353 discusses the attribution of this anepigraphic class, noting that Wroth, in the British Museum catalog, gave it to the reign of Leo V. But assigning it to Nikephoros, Grierson observes that “such a gap of eight years in mint activity at this particular period is most unlikely.”

Follis, Syracuse, 803-11, 2.64 gr. 22.1 mm. 6 hr. Sear 1612; DO 10; BM 13-14; R. 1787-8; Spahr 351-5. As on the solidus above it, the portrait of Nikephoros is on the obverse, that of his son, on the reverse.

[Hrefn]

Merely a reiteration of @voulgaroktonou’s usual scholarly exposition above, but I am excited to be back in the game.

Does anyone know the meaning of the X (or Chi) at the conclusion of the inscription on the reverse?  

[voulgaroktonou]

23 minutes ago, Hrefn said:

Merely a reiteration of @voulgaroktonou’s usual scholarly exposition above, but I am excited to be back in the game.

Does anyone know the meaning of the X (or Chi) at the conclusion of the inscription on the reverse?  

@Hrefn, what a wonderful example! Far nicer than my worn and holed specimen! In the DO cat., Grierson refers to them as "control marks", not as "officina" numbers. The DO examples record them as ε θ X. If they are Greek numerals, they would be 5, 9, but 10 would be Ι in Greek. It seems odd that it would be expressed as a Roman numeral, given the two others being Greek....I'll try to read a little further tonight on the subject. (If my wife and 4 dogs permit me the leisure....)

[Valentinian]

Nicephorus I, 802-811.

24-23 mm. 6.88 grams.
Sear 1606. DOC 3.1 Nicephorus 4, struck 802-3.

22 mm. 5.49 grams.
Nicephorus on left and Stauracius on right.
Sear 1607. DOC 3.1 Nicephorus I, 5 "803-811"

19-15 mm. 2.15 grams. (Smaller than the above coins)
Struck at Syracuse.
Nicephorus/Stauracius
Sear 1612. DOC 3.1 Nicephorus 11. This type is very similar to a type of Michael I, DOC 3.1, Michael I, 8. Usually, as here, the legend on the right which could tell them apart is off the flan. However, the vertical "N" at 11:00 on the obverse (just to the right of the crack) allows the attribution to Nicephorus. 

 

[sand]

11 hours ago, Ancient Coin Hunter said:

To interject briefly in the flow of things - Irene was kind of a pseudo-emperor, right? Having a woman on the throne in Constantinople compelled the pope to crown Charlemagne holy roman emperor on Christmas day in 800 since it was believed a woman should not be ruling over the empire, also there were the Christological differences between the Orthodox East and Catholic West which had become more virulent over time. Back to the regularly scheduled programming.

I'm not an expert on the subject. If I understand it correctly, then Irene was the official Byzantine Empress, the official ruler of the Byzantine Empire, the Byzantine Empress Regnant, a real Emperor/Empress, from 797 AD to 802 AD. Before that, Irene was the Byzantine Empress Consort from 775 AD to 780 AD, and the Byzantine Regent from 780 AD to 790 AD, and the Byzantine Co-Empress from 792 AD to 797 AD.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Roman_emperors 

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Irene_of_Athens 

However, if I understand it correctly, there were some Byzantines, and other persons outside of the Byzantine Empire, who didn't think that a woman could be the ruler of the Byzantine Empire. Perhaps this was another factor, in addition to the Byzantine iconoclasm and other factors, which caused the split between the Western Christians (Catholics) and the Eastern Christians (Orthodox).  Perhaps these factors, and other factors, also caused western Europe to stop recognizing the Byzantine Empire as the Roman Empire, and to create the Holy Roman Empire, in 800 AD. By the way, when Irene was the Byzantine Regent, iconoclasm was officially declared to be heresy in 787 AD, because Irene was an iconophile. However, Byzantine iconoclasm arose again in 814 AD, and lasted until 843 AD.

Edited July 8, 2023 by sand

[voulgaroktonou]

4 hours ago, voulgaroktonou said:

@Hrefn, what a wonderful example! Far nicer than my worn and holed specimen! In the DO cat., Grierson refers to them as "control marks", not as "officina" numbers. The DO examples record them as ε θ X. If they are Greek numerals, they would be 5, 9, but 10 would be Ι in Greek. It seems odd that it would be expressed as a Roman numeral, given the two others being Greek....I'll try to read a little further tonight on the subject. (If my wife and 4 dogs permit me the leisure....)

Dear @Hrefn, I've just finished reading DOC 3:1, pp. 77-80 for PG's comments on officina/control marks. He points out that after the reign of Leo III, the traditional use of officina numbers fell into confusion, being replaced on the gold by a series of "control marks", which no longer had any numerical significance. But he further notes that these control marks performed a real function, by the fact that they were sometimes recut into the dies. I hope this is of some help. And again, I must compliment you on a beautiful solidus.

[Ancient Coin Hunter]

16 hours ago, sand said:

I'm not an expert on the subject. If I understand it correctly, then Irene was the official Byzantine Empress, the official ruler of the Byzantine Empire, the Byzantine Empress Regnant, a real Emperor/Empress, from 797 AD to 802 AD. Before that, Irene was the Byzantine Empress Consort from 775 AD to 780 AD, and the Byzantine Regent from 780 AD to 790 AD, and the Byzantine Co-Empress from 792 AD to 797 AD.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Roman_emperors 

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Irene_of_Athens 

However, if I understand it correctly, there were some Byzantines, and other persons outside of the Byzantine Empire, who didn't think that a woman could be the ruler of the Byzantine Empire. Perhaps this was another factor, in addition to the Byzantine iconoclasm and other factors, which caused the split between the Western Christians (Catholics) and the Eastern Christians (Orthodox).  Perhaps these factors, and other factors, also caused western Europe to stop recognizing the Byzantine Empire as the Roman Empire, and to create the Holy Roman Empire, in 800 AD. By the way, when Irene was the Byzantine Regent, iconoclasm was officially declared to be heresy in 787 AD, because Irene was an iconophile. However, Byzantine iconoclasm arose again in 814 AD, and lasted until 843 AD.

Thanks for the response. Another factor could be that the Byzantines (e.g. Romans, as they called themselves) no longer controlled Rome by 775, giving the pope an excuse to identify a more local strongman, in this case, Charlemagne, and make him the legitimate ruler. After all if Rome were still under Byzantine control he would not have been able to do this. Also, how meaningless to declare an end to Roman history at 476 if the eastern half had recovered it in the 530's and still ruled it 200 years later. Our perception of history flavored by Gibbon and other decline and fall pundits is seemingly inaccurate, whereas scholars like Peter Brown, the Late Antiquity expert, spoke to the dynamism of the time rather than calling it a dark age.

[Severus Alexander]

Krum's mug!

With Stauracius (my best portraits):

and my Syracuse example:

[voulgaroktonou]

2 hours ago, Severus Alexander said:

Krum's mug!

With Stauracius (my best portraits):

and my Syracuse example:

Great examples, @Severus Alexander! Love them!

[voulgaroktonou]

Michael I Rangave, emperor (811–13). During the reign of Nikephoros, Michael held the dignity of kouropalates, a high ranking official responsible for construction and order in the palace. He accompanied Nikephoros in his catastrophic defeat against the Bulgarians, but unlike his emperor, he was not destined to become a piece of Krum’s tableware. Michael became emperor on 2 Oct. 811, when the dying Staurakios abdicated in his favor. On 25 Dec. 811, he raised his son Theophylaktos to the throne as his co-Augustus.

Despite the responsibilities of his previous role as kouropalates, the historian Theophanes writes of him that he was  “Completely honest and equitable but incapable of managing matters.” Michael reversed his predecessor’s unpopular fiscal policies, spending lavishly on churches, monasteries, and various charities.  As will be seen below, he rejected the claims of Charlemagne  to the imperial title, which had been conferred on him when Pope Leo III crowned the Frankish king imperator Romanorum on 25 Dec. 800 in Rome.

His continuation of Nikephoros’ wars against the Bulgars was a failure and ultimately led to his downfall. He abdicated in favor of Leo V on 11 July 813. His son and co-ruler Theophylaktos was mutilated along with his other sons, and Michael became a monk on the Princes' Islands, taking the name Athanasios.

 

Because we have been focusing on the portraits of the βασιλείς Ῥωμαίων, I’ve not shown any miliaresia, of which I am very fond. But a very significant feature appears on the denomination under Michael I. Prior to Michael, the legends on the miliaresia end with the phrase: bASILIS (emperors). Until the “upstart” Charlemagne was crowned Imperator Romanorum in Rome on 25 Dec. 800, the single word sufficed to stress that the only emperor was that in Constantinople. To emphasize their point, after 812 the Byzantines now consistently refer to their ruler as basileus of the Rhomaioi. Charlemagne was grudgingly regarded as emperor only of the Franks.

Miliaresion, Constantinople, 811-13. 2.12 gr. 22.3 mm . 12 hr. Sear 1616; DO 3; BNP 1-3; BM 2-3; R. 1792; T. 4

 

Grierson, in the Dumbarton Oaks catalog, does not recognize the 2 classes of Constantinopolitan folles as belonging to Michael I; he would place them in the reign of Michael II. He explains his reasons on pp. 364-65 of DOC 3:1, for those who wish to read them.

 

Follis, Constantinople, 811 . 5.11 gr. 23.1 mm . 6hr.  Sear 1617;DO 7 (Michael II); BM p. 406 (Michael I); T. 5 (Michael I); R. 1789. The basileus is here alone, without his son.

Follis, Constantinople, 811-813 . 5.14 gr. 23.3 mm . 6 hr. Sear 1618; DO 8 (Michael II);  BNP 1; BM 4-6. Father and son both appear as co-Augusti on the obverse.

Follis, Syracuse, 811. 2.62 gr. 18 mm. 6 hr. Sear 1624; DO 9; BNP, p. 505; BM 20-21 (Michael III); T. 5 (Michael II); R. 1848 (Michael III). Issued before the proclamation of Theophylaktos as co-Augustus in Dec. 811, this series bears the portrait of Michael on both obverse and reverse. Curiously, his reverse portrait is beardless; this likely follows a convention of placing the junior emperor on the reverse.

Follis, Syracuse, 811-13. 2.16 gr. 17 mm. 6 hr. Sear 1625; DO 10; BM 12; R. 1793. Similar to the previous coin, Michael’s portrait appears on the obverse, while here, his son, who is named, occupies the reverse.

 

[Severus Alexander]

Michael I alone:

and with Theophylactus:

Prior to this, it seems the loros was typically reserved for the senior emperor, but on this coin Mike wears a chlamys and Theo the loros.

I don't have any Syracusan types for this emperor.