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Hermitage Fine Art
November 2019 Auction  17 Nov 2019
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Lot 144

Estimate: 20 000 EUR
Price realized: 22 000 EUR
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Irene (797-802)
Solidus. Constantinople, 800-802, AU 4.35 g.
Obverse : ЄIRINH bASILISSH. Bust of Irene facing, wearing crown and loros, holding globus cruciger and cruciform scepter.
Reverse : • ЄIRINH bASILISSH [circle with cross within]. Bust of Irene facing, wearing crown and loros, holding globus cruciger and
cruciform scepter.
Ref : DOC 1a.1, FF 2.B.1, Sear 1599.
Provenance : Stack's (pre-Feb 2011), Moneta Imperii Romani Byzantini, 12/01/2009, lot 3190.
Berk sale 119, 2000, lot 94.
Numismatica Genevensis sale 1, 2000, lot 194.
Extremely Fine.
Irene (797-802). As sole ruler, Irene became the fi rst woman to occupy the Byzantine throne. She sought to win popular support through a relaxation of taxes and generous gifting, but this unfortunately only weakened the State. During her reign, Charlemagne was crowned Emperor in 800 bringing into existence a new rival Western Empire. A palace revolution overthrew Irene in 802 and she died in exile on the island of Lesbos soon after.
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