Constantine VII, Porphyrogenitus and Romanus I, Lecapenus

[Jims,Coins]

Minted at Constantinople during the reign of Constantine VII, Porphyrogenitus and Romanus I, Lecapenus between 20 May 921 - August 931. Obv. +IhS XPS REX REcnAntI4M*.: Christ enthroned facing, wearing nimbus cr., pallium and colobium, and raising r. hand in benediction; in l. hand, book of Gospels. Rev. ROmAn’ET XPISTOFO’ A4cc b’.: Facing busts of Romanus I, with short beard (on l.) and Christopher, beardless (on r.), both crowned, holding between them long patriarchal cross; Romanus wears loros, whilst his son is clad in chlamys. BCVS #1745. CBE #6 pg. 201.

In December 920, Romanus was crowned as co-emperor. He appears beside Constantine on a gold solidus^[7], both wearing the imperial loros, but a beardless Constantine stands in the senior position on Romanus’ right, with his hand above the older man’s hand on the shaft of the cross they hold between them. Constantine’s name also comes first on the inscription. These visual cues communicated important political messages to a Byzantine elite that was obsessed with protocol and ceremony. A short time later (c. 921-923), Romanus took the senior position on the coinage^[8], and Constantine was demoted. He appears wearing the less prestigious chlamys.

Post your coins from Constantine VII, Porphyrogenitus and Romanus I, Lecapenus 

[ela126]

There are several very nice pieces available from this time period. Admittedly I haven’t focused much on it yet but hope to get some in the future. I want to say a very good example of Romanus 1 miliaresion is selling tomorrow on Savoca.

Here are my couple pieces. Cherson mint was still quite active at this point and there are a good handful of available pieces, my 2 examples are more common types. Both Constantine and Romanus have excellent, easily found portrait examples… I still need to find a Romanus for myself.

[ewomack]

 

Nice coins, @Jims,Coins and @ela126!

This is a very fascinating period in Byzantine history as well as for Byzantine coins. It's fascinating to follow the power struggles reflected on some of the coinage.

I've found nice examples of Sear 1761 (the first one below) pretty difficult to find. I love the design and the portrait and the huge globus cruciger. I picked up this one because it seemed to have better details than most of the other examples I have come across (I'm sure far better examples exist). I believe 1761 dates from Constantine VII's sole reign following Romanus I's usurpation by his sons in 944 (Sear mentions that these are often overstruck on the coin below of Romanus I, which seems to validate their chronological order).

Constantine VII (913-959);Constantinople; Æ Follis; Obv: CONST bASIL ROM, crowned bust of Constantine facing, with short beard and wearing vertical loros, holding akakia and cross on globe; Rev: CONST-EN QEO bA-SILEVS R-OMEON, legend in four lines; 25mm.,5.05g; DOC 26, SB 1761

Presented here out of chronological order (I think), Sear 1760 of Romanus I is probably one of my favorite Byzantine coins and this one is one of my favorites in my personal pile. The combination of Greek and Latin letters always beguiles me. Sear states that this type was often overstruck onto Folles of Constantine VII's ancestor, Leo VI, usually Sear 1729.

Romanus I Lacapenus (920 - 944); Constantinople Æ Follis; Obv: +RwMAN bAS-ILEVS Rwm’ Facing bust of Romanus I, bearded, wearing crown and jeweled chlamys, and holding labarum and globus cruciger; Rev: +RwMA/N’ENΘEwbA/SILEVSRw/MAIwN; 27mm, 8.09g, 6h; R.1886-8, Sear 1760

 

Edited November 8, 2024 by ewomack