Watch List notes:

Constantine VII. Solidus; Constantine VII; 913-959 AD. Constantinople, c. 945 AD, Solidus, 4.31g. Füeg-13.A.2² (1 spec.); this exact variety not described by DO-13 or Sear-1747. Obv: Facing bust of Christ, nimbate, raising r. hand in benediction and holding Gospels in l., legend "Jesus Christ, King of Kings". The three cross arms behind Christ's head are bordered with double lines; legend ends with IUm not IWm; + before legend, rosette and ' after legend. Rx: Portrait of Constantine VII with long beard wearing loros of rich design and holding patriarchal cross on globe.Even though Constantine VII was in power for forty-six years, for most of those years he was dominated by his father-in-law and his father-in-law's sons. Until there was a fight between the father-in-law and his sons which eliminated all three of them, Constantine was really never a true emperor. This excessively rare issue was only struck in the year 945 AD and only fifteen of these coins are recorded, most of which are in museums including five in Dumbarton Oakes. This coin was also missing from all of the collections sold in the last thirty years, so it is one of the most relevant coins of the late Roman series. The nose and lips are somewhat softly struck, but the loros is struck in high relief and the fields are flawless, making this a numismatic treasure. MS

Buy price: $26000