Nomos AG
obolos 4 21 February 2016
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Uncertain ruler, second half of the 11th century. Fragment (Silver, 8mm, 0.23 g 6). Nimbate bust of the Virgin facing, probably orans. Rev. Facing bust of emperor, wearing loros and holding cross scepter. Cf. DOC 7 (Romanus IV) for the types. Apparently unknown and most intriguing. Clipped down from a larger size to only reveal the two portraits, otherwise, about extremely fine.
This is a particularly annoying object! The design itself is perfectly clear, and it is equally clear that this is the center of an originally much larger coin, but, unfortunately, no full-sized example seems to be known! The original piece would have depicted the Virgin orans, her hands raised in prayer: what remains makes it clear that she could not have held a medallion of the infant Christ; another common depiction of the Virgin in the 11th century. As for the bust of the emperor, there is nothing particularly individual about it, especially since we cannot be sure what kind of cross he is holding (if it is not a labarum).
This is a particularly annoying object! The design itself is perfectly clear, and it is equally clear that this is the center of an originally much larger coin, but, unfortunately, no full-sized example seems to be known! The original piece would have depicted the Virgin orans, her hands raised in prayer: what remains makes it clear that she could not have held a medallion of the infant Christ; another common depiction of the Virgin in the 11th century. As for the bust of the emperor, there is nothing particularly individual about it, especially since we cannot be sure what kind of cross he is holding (if it is not a labarum).