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ANA Signature Sale 3094 19-20 Aug 2021
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Ancients
Michael III 'the Drunkard' (AD 842-867). AV solidus (20mm, 4.40 gm, 6h). NGC AU 5/5 - 2/5, scuff. Constantinople, AD 856-866. IhSЧS X-RIStOS*, half-length bust of Christ facing, with long hair and full beard, wearing pallium and colobium, cross behind head, right hand raised in benediction, book of Gospels cradled in left arm / +-mI-XAHL bASILЄ', bust of Michael III facing, wearing crown and diagonal pattern loros, vexillum decorated with cross in right hand, akakia in left; cross to left. Sear 1688. DOC III 3. Very rare.
Ex William Oldknow Collection (Goldberg, Auction 120, 2 February 2021), lot 1191
Though now saddled with the unfortunate epithet "the Drunkard," Michael III showed real ability and it was under his reign that the great recovery in Byzantine fortunes later called "the Macedonian Renaissance" began. The son of Theophilus, he was only two years old when his father died and the purple passed to him. A succession of regents, mainly his mother Theodora, ran affairs of state until he reached his majority in AD 856, when his reign truly began. Guided by his uncle, the Caesar Bardas, his regime made astonishing progress on the domestic, diplomatic and military fronts. The Arabs were defeated and pushed back, the Slavs Christianized and incorporated within the Empire, the last embers of Iconoclasm stamped out, and a university established in Constantinople to advance higher learning. Byzantine art and iconography, too, began a strong revival, as indicated by this magnificent gold solidus. Later Byzantine historians blackened Michael's name as a drunken wastrel in order to glorify the dynasty of the man who murdered him and usurped the throne, Basil I the Macedonian, but he deserved better treatment.
https://coins.ha.com/itm/ancients/byzantine/ancients-michael-iii-the-drunkard-ad-842-867-av-solidus-20mm-440-gm-6h-ngc-au-5-5-2-5-scuff/a/3094-34318.s?type=CoinArchives3094
HID02906262019
© 2020 Heritage Auctions | All Rights Reserved
Estimate: 3000-4000 USD
Michael III 'the Drunkard' (AD 842-867). AV solidus (20mm, 4.40 gm, 6h). NGC AU 5/5 - 2/5, scuff. Constantinople, AD 856-866. IhSЧS X-RIStOS*, half-length bust of Christ facing, with long hair and full beard, wearing pallium and colobium, cross behind head, right hand raised in benediction, book of Gospels cradled in left arm / +-mI-XAHL bASILЄ', bust of Michael III facing, wearing crown and diagonal pattern loros, vexillum decorated with cross in right hand, akakia in left; cross to left. Sear 1688. DOC III 3. Very rare.
Ex William Oldknow Collection (Goldberg, Auction 120, 2 February 2021), lot 1191
Though now saddled with the unfortunate epithet "the Drunkard," Michael III showed real ability and it was under his reign that the great recovery in Byzantine fortunes later called "the Macedonian Renaissance" began. The son of Theophilus, he was only two years old when his father died and the purple passed to him. A succession of regents, mainly his mother Theodora, ran affairs of state until he reached his majority in AD 856, when his reign truly began. Guided by his uncle, the Caesar Bardas, his regime made astonishing progress on the domestic, diplomatic and military fronts. The Arabs were defeated and pushed back, the Slavs Christianized and incorporated within the Empire, the last embers of Iconoclasm stamped out, and a university established in Constantinople to advance higher learning. Byzantine art and iconography, too, began a strong revival, as indicated by this magnificent gold solidus. Later Byzantine historians blackened Michael's name as a drunken wastrel in order to glorify the dynasty of the man who murdered him and usurped the throne, Basil I the Macedonian, but he deserved better treatment.
https://coins.ha.com/itm/ancients/byzantine/ancients-michael-iii-the-drunkard-ad-842-867-av-solidus-20mm-440-gm-6h-ngc-au-5-5-2-5-scuff/a/3094-34318.s?type=CoinArchives3094
HID02906262019
© 2020 Heritage Auctions | All Rights Reserved
Estimate: 3000-4000 USD