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Dallas Signature Sale 3085 5-7 Aug 2020
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Michael III "the Drunkard" (AD 842-867), with Theodora. AV solidus (11mm, 2.83 gm, 7h). NGC VF 4/5 - 1/5, clipped. Constantinople, AD 850-856. IhSЧS X-RISTOS *, facing half-length bust of Christ with long hair and full beard, wearing pallium and colobium, cross behind head, raising right hand in benediction, book of Gospels cradled in left arm / + MIXAHL S ΘЄ-O-dORA, crowned facing busts of Michael III (on left), beardless and wearing chlamys pinned at left shoulder, and Theodora (on right), wearing loros, two pinnacles on crown; cross and pellet between. Sear 1687. DOC 2.
Ex Classical Numismatic Group, Electronic Auction 255 (4 May 2011), lot 367
Theodora, who ruled as regent for Michael III during his long minority, was one of the more successful female Byzantine rulers. She was wed to the newly crowned Theophilus in AD 830 following a "bride show" in which eligible maidens from all over the Empire were paraded before the young emperor. She remained a fervent iconodule despite the strict iconoclasm of her husband, and bore him seven children over 12 years. In AD 842, Theophilus died at only 29 years of age; his only surviving son was the three-year old Michael III, who had already been declared emperor and succeeded without opposition, with Theodora acting as regent. She was ably assisted by her brothers, Bardas and Petronas, as well as by Theoktistos, the logothete (admiral) of the Byzantine navy. The borders were maintained, Arab and slavic raids repulsed, and the century-old iconoclastic controversy ended diplomatically by a restoration of icons (as objects of veneration, not worship), without reprisal on those who had sought their destruction. The reappearance of Christ's bust on the obverse of this solidus can be seen as marking the end of the iconoclastic era. Throughout, she demonstrated herself an effective and capable ruler. In typical Byzantine fashion, though, she soon fell victim to court intrigues by her brother Bardas, who conspired with the young Michael in AD 856 to remove Theodora from power. Once deposed, she was confined to a convent and could only watch helplessly as a lowborn but ambitious courtier named Basil wormed his way into her son's affections, did away with Bardas, and ultimately murdered Michael and ascended the throne himself in AD 867.
https://coins.ha.com/itm/ancients/byzantine/ancients-michael-iii-the-drunkard-ad-842-867-with-theodora-av-solidus-11mm-283-gm-7h-ngc-vf-4-5-1-5-cl/a/3085-31170.s?type=CoinArchives3085
HID02906262019
© 2020 Heritage Auctions | All Rights Reserved
Estimate: 1000-2000 USD
Michael III "the Drunkard" (AD 842-867), with Theodora. AV solidus (11mm, 2.83 gm, 7h). NGC VF 4/5 - 1/5, clipped. Constantinople, AD 850-856. IhSЧS X-RISTOS *, facing half-length bust of Christ with long hair and full beard, wearing pallium and colobium, cross behind head, raising right hand in benediction, book of Gospels cradled in left arm / + MIXAHL S ΘЄ-O-dORA, crowned facing busts of Michael III (on left), beardless and wearing chlamys pinned at left shoulder, and Theodora (on right), wearing loros, two pinnacles on crown; cross and pellet between. Sear 1687. DOC 2.
Ex Classical Numismatic Group, Electronic Auction 255 (4 May 2011), lot 367
Theodora, who ruled as regent for Michael III during his long minority, was one of the more successful female Byzantine rulers. She was wed to the newly crowned Theophilus in AD 830 following a "bride show" in which eligible maidens from all over the Empire were paraded before the young emperor. She remained a fervent iconodule despite the strict iconoclasm of her husband, and bore him seven children over 12 years. In AD 842, Theophilus died at only 29 years of age; his only surviving son was the three-year old Michael III, who had already been declared emperor and succeeded without opposition, with Theodora acting as regent. She was ably assisted by her brothers, Bardas and Petronas, as well as by Theoktistos, the logothete (admiral) of the Byzantine navy. The borders were maintained, Arab and slavic raids repulsed, and the century-old iconoclastic controversy ended diplomatically by a restoration of icons (as objects of veneration, not worship), without reprisal on those who had sought their destruction. The reappearance of Christ's bust on the obverse of this solidus can be seen as marking the end of the iconoclastic era. Throughout, she demonstrated herself an effective and capable ruler. In typical Byzantine fashion, though, she soon fell victim to court intrigues by her brother Bardas, who conspired with the young Michael in AD 856 to remove Theodora from power. Once deposed, she was confined to a convent and could only watch helplessly as a lowborn but ambitious courtier named Basil wormed his way into her son's affections, did away with Bardas, and ultimately murdered Michael and ascended the throne himself in AD 867.
https://coins.ha.com/itm/ancients/byzantine/ancients-michael-iii-the-drunkard-ad-842-867-with-theodora-av-solidus-11mm-283-gm-7h-ngc-vf-4-5-1-5-cl/a/3085-31170.s?type=CoinArchives3085
HID02906262019
© 2020 Heritage Auctions | All Rights Reserved
Estimate: 1000-2000 USD