COINAGE OF THE EMPRESS IRENE

Constantine VI & Irene, with Leo III, Constantine V, and Leo IV. 780-797. AV Solidus (19.5mm, 4.38 g, 6h). Constantinople mint. Struck 790-792. Constantine V, Leo III, and Leo IV seated facing, each crowned and draped / Crowned facing busts of Constantine VI, draped and holding globus cruciger, and Irene, wearing loros and holding globus cruciger and cruciform scepter; cross above, • between. DOC 1; SB 1593. Good VF. Classical Numismatic Group Auction 114, 13 May 2020, Lot: 1050. Price realized: 2,750 USD.

ATHENS IN THE eighth century was a provincial small town living on memories of past glories. But its aristocrats were proud of their daughters, reputedly the most talented and beautiful women in the Eastern Roman ("Byzantine”) empire. When Emperor Constantine V needed a bride for his son and heir, the future Leo IV (ruled 770-775) a 15-year-old Athenian girl named Irene (Eirene in Greek) was chosen. Shrewd and ruthless, she became the first woman to rule this fiercely masculine empire in her own right.

Her coinage is eagerly collected today.

Dynastic solidus
On September 8, 780, Leo IV died at the age of 31. Irene then became regent for her nine year-old son, Constantine VI. A gold solidus celebrates dynastic continuity; on the obverse three generations of deceased ancestors sit side by side: Leo III, Constantine V and Leo IV. Irene and her son appear on the reverse. She wears the imperial crown with triangular points and dangling strings of pearls (pendilia) that indicated "empress” to Byzantines.

To read the complete article, see:
Byzantine Coinage of the Empress Irene – CoinWeek Ancient Coin Series (https://coinweek.com/ancient-coins/byzantine-coinage-of-the-empress-irene-coinweek-ancient-coin-series/)

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