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Showcase Auction 61288 18 Sep 2022
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Romanus III Argyrus (AD 1028-1034). AV histamenon nomisma (25mm, 4.39 gm, 6h). NGC MS 5/5 - 4/5. Constantinople. +IhS XIS RЄX-RЄϚNANTInm (m inverted), Christ enthroned facing, wearing nimbus cruciger, pallium and colobium, raising right hand in benediction, book of Gospels in left; double border / ΘCЄ bOHΘ'-RwmAhw, standing facing figures of Romanus III (on left), bearded, wearing crown with pendilia, saccos and loros, five pellets on sleeve, globus cruciger in left hand, and the Virgin (on right), nimbate, wearing pallium and maphorium, crowning emperor with right hand; decorative element over MΘ in central field between their heads, double border. Sear 1819. Engraved by an artist with an exceptional ability to make clothing and drapery appear realistic and graceful; struck on a gleaming flan and full of detail. A superb example.
From the Historical Scholar Collection. Ex CNG Auction 69 (8 June 2005), lot 1884
Romanus III was the second Byzantine emperor to be assassinated while in the bath. The first was Constans II, who was hit on the head with a bucket by his chamberlain in 668. Romanus was drowned by several assassins, who, according to the contemporary Chronicle of John Skylitzes, "were washing him and held his head a bit too long under the water." The assassins were probably sent by his wife, the empress Zoe Porphyrogenita. She married the new emperor Michael IV the following day. There is a striking illustration of Romanus' murder in an illuminated manuscript of Skylitzes' Chronicle, which was illustrated in the 13th century and currently resides in the Biblioteca Nacional de España in Madrid.
https://coins.ha.com/itm/ancients/byzantine/ancients-romanus-iii-argyrus-ad-1028-1034-av-histamenon-nomisma-25mm-439-gm-6h-ngc-ms-5-5-4-5/a/61288-95318.s?type=DA-DMC-CoinArchives-WorldCoins-61288-09182022
HID02906262019
© 2022 Heritage Auctions | All Rights Reserved
Romanus III Argyrus (AD 1028-1034). AV histamenon nomisma (25mm, 4.39 gm, 6h). NGC MS 5/5 - 4/5. Constantinople. +IhS XIS RЄX-RЄϚNANTInm (m inverted), Christ enthroned facing, wearing nimbus cruciger, pallium and colobium, raising right hand in benediction, book of Gospels in left; double border / ΘCЄ bOHΘ'-RwmAhw, standing facing figures of Romanus III (on left), bearded, wearing crown with pendilia, saccos and loros, five pellets on sleeve, globus cruciger in left hand, and the Virgin (on right), nimbate, wearing pallium and maphorium, crowning emperor with right hand; decorative element over MΘ in central field between their heads, double border. Sear 1819. Engraved by an artist with an exceptional ability to make clothing and drapery appear realistic and graceful; struck on a gleaming flan and full of detail. A superb example.
From the Historical Scholar Collection. Ex CNG Auction 69 (8 June 2005), lot 1884
Romanus III was the second Byzantine emperor to be assassinated while in the bath. The first was Constans II, who was hit on the head with a bucket by his chamberlain in 668. Romanus was drowned by several assassins, who, according to the contemporary Chronicle of John Skylitzes, "were washing him and held his head a bit too long under the water." The assassins were probably sent by his wife, the empress Zoe Porphyrogenita. She married the new emperor Michael IV the following day. There is a striking illustration of Romanus' murder in an illuminated manuscript of Skylitzes' Chronicle, which was illustrated in the 13th century and currently resides in the Biblioteca Nacional de España in Madrid.
https://coins.ha.com/itm/ancients/byzantine/ancients-romanus-iii-argyrus-ad-1028-1034-av-histamenon-nomisma-25mm-439-gm-6h-ngc-ms-5-5-4-5/a/61288-95318.s?type=DA-DMC-CoinArchives-WorldCoins-61288-09182022
HID02906262019
© 2022 Heritage Auctions | All Rights Reserved