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HERITAGE AUCTIONS: BYZANTINE COINAGEHeritage Auctions will be hosting their Byzantine coinage Spotlight on October 15. Some selections are discussed below. From the October 1, 2024 Heritage Coin News emailing. -Garrett Our October 15 Spotlight: Byzantine Ancient Coins Showcase Auction allows you to experience the historical significance of Byzantium through its coinage. From gold solidi to bronze folles, each coin provides insight into the economic, cultural, and political aspects of the Empire. The 194 lots in this auction are currently open for bidding, and this auction will conclude with a Live Session though Heritage Live on Tuesday, October 15 at 7PM CT. A particularly notable coin offered here is an AV solidus of Philippicus (Bardanes), graded Choice AU 5/5 - 3/5 by NGC. One of a debilitating string of short-lived rulers from the early eighth century, Bardanes was a general of Armenian origins who was proclaimed emperor upon the final overthrow of Justinian II. Almost immediately, he alienated the clergy and populace by reviving the Monothelete heresy (proposing that Christ had a single, divine nature and will) which had supposedly been stamped out decades previously. He was also unsuccessful in stopping Arab and Bulgarian advances, prompting the Byzantine army to depose and blind him after 18 months of ineffective rule. He was replaced by the finance minister Artemius, who reigned as Anastasius II. This extraordinary piece shows the unusually fine artistry employed on the coinage for so ephemeral a reign, showing the emperor holding two symbols of office dating back to Roman times: The globus cruciger and scipio aquila, a scepter topped by an eagle. Take a look at some of the other Byzantine treasures you have the chance to acquire here: 
Justinian II Rhinotmetus, Second Reign (AD 705-711). AV solidus (19mm, 4.48 gm, 6h). NGC MS 4/5 - 2/5, bent. Constantinople, AD 705. d N IhS ChS R?X-R?GNANTI?M, bust of youthful Christ facing, with short beard and tight, curly hair, right hand raised in benediction, book of Gospels in left; cross behind head / d N I?S-TINIA-N?S M?LT?S AN, bust of Justinian II facing with short beard, wearing loros and crown surmounted by cross, cross potent on three steps in right hand, patriarchal cross on globe inscribed with PAX in left. Sear 1413. Ex Classical Numismatic Group, Electronic Auction 391 (15 February 2017), lot 617.
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Constantine V Copronymus (AD 740/1-775), with Leo III. AV solidus (20mm, 4.44 gm, 6h). NGC MS 4/5 - 4/5. Constantinople. CN CO-NS-tANtIN?S, draped bust of Constantine V facing, with short beard, wearing chlamys and crown surmounted by cross, cross potent in right hand, akakia in left / G-L?-ON P A M?LI, draped bust of Leo III facing, with short beard, wearing chlamys and crown surmounted by cross, cross potent in right hand, akakia in left. Sear 1550. Ex Ed's Treasures Collection (Heritage Auctions, Auction 61238, 5 December 2021), lot 99231.
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Theophilus (AD 829-842). AV solidus (16mm, 3.89 gm, 5h). NGC Choice AU 5/5 - 4/5. Syracuse, AD 831-842. T?O-FI?OS (inverted F), bust of Theophilus facing, with short beard, wearing loros and crown surmounted by cross, globus cruciger in right hand / T?-OFI?OS (inverted F), bust of Theophilus facing, with short beard, wearing chlamys and crown surmounted by cross, globus cruciger in right hand. Sear 1670. From Kenneth Donahue Collection. Ex David E. Welsh Associates, private sale with old dealer's tag included.
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Basil II Bulgaroctonos with Constantine VIII (AD 976-1025). AV histamenon nomisma (22mm, 4.32 gm, 6h). NGC Choice XF 5/5 - 3/5, scratches. Constantinople, AD 989-1001. + IhS XPS R?X R?GNANTI?M, bust of Christ facing, wearing nimbus cruciger with two pellets in each arm, pallium and colobium, right hand raised in benediction, book of Gospels cradled in left / +bASIL C CONStANtI b R, crowned half-length facing busts of Basil II (on left), with short beard, wearing loros, and Constantine VIII (on right), beardless, wearing chlamys pinned on right shoulder, jointly holding patriarchal cross crosslet between them. Sear 1797. From The William Libbert Collection. Ex Heritage Auctions, Auction 378 (23 September 2005), lot 12122.
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Constantine VIII (AD 1025-1028). AV histamenon nomisma (26mm, 4.41 gm, 7h). NGC Choice AU 5/5 - 5/5. Constantinople. +IhS XIS R?X R??NANTIhm, bust of Christ facing, wearing nimbus cruciger with annulets in upper quadrants, pallium and colobium, right hand raised in benediction, Gospels cradled in left arm; triple border / +CwN-StANtI-bASIL??S ROm, bust of Constantine VIII facing, wearing crown surmounted by cross with pendilia, and square-pattern loros with jeweled collar, labarum in right hand, akakia in left; triple border. Sear 1815. Ex Ed's Treasures Collection (Heritage Auctions, Auction 61238, 5 December 2021), lot 99242.
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Anonymous Issue. Class A3. Time of Basil II and Constantine VIII (AD 1020-1028). AE follis (28mm, 10.71 gm, 6h). NGC AU 4/5 - 4/5. Constantinople. +EMMA-NOVH?, bust of Christ facing, wearing nimbus cruciger with two pellets in each limb, pallium and colobium, book of Gospels decorated with pellets on cover in both hands, IC-XC (barred) across fields / +IhS?S / XRIST?S / bASIL?? / bASIL?, legend in four lines; floral decorative element above and below. Sear 1818.
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John II Comnenus (AD 1118-1143). AV hyperpyron (28mm, 4.28 gm, 5h). NGC MS 4/5 - 4/5, edge crimp. Constantinople. +K-? RO-HT?I, Christ enthroned facing, wearing nimbus cruciger with single pellet in each arm, pallium and colobium, raising right hand in benediction, book of Gospels in left; IC-XC (barred) across fields, double border / IW / ??C / ?O / TH, The Virgin (on right), nimbate, standing facing, wearing pallium and maphorium, left hand raised in benediction, crowning with right hand John II (on left), standing facing, wearing divitision and loros, six pellets on sleeve, right hand on chest, globus cruciger in left; VT (barred) above, MHP (barred, retrograde, and ligate) in right field. Sear 1940. Ex Ed's Treasures Collection (Heritage Auctions, Auction 61238, 5 December 2021), lot 99252.
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John VIII Palaeologus (AD 1421/5-1448). AR stavraton (25mm, 6.74 gm, 7h). NGC Choice XF 4/5 - 5/5. Constantinople. Bust of Christ facing, wearing nimbus cruciger, book of Gospels cradled in left hand; IC-XC across fields, pellets within double border around / + IOANHC ?EC?OTIC O ???????GOC / TV XAPITI AVTOKPATOP, nimbate bust of John VIII facing, crowned and wearing loros; pellet in left and right fields. Sear 2564 (AR half-hyperpyron). Ex Heritage Auctions, Auction 61237 (21 November 2021), lot 99202.
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Place your bids now through October 15 at Coins.HA.com!
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