Classical Numismatic Group, LLC
Auction 121 6-8 Oct 2022
View prices realized
► Sale information
Find similar lots
Michael VI Stratioticus. 1056-1057. AV Tetarteron Nomisma (20mm, 4.05 g, 6h). Constantinople mint. + mIXAHL AЧτOCRAτ, Michael, bearded, standing on footstool, wearing crown, saccos and loros, and holding long cross and akakia / Facing bust of the Virgin orans, nimbate and wearing pallium and maphorium. DOC 2.4; Füeg II 2.y; SB 1841. Lustrous. Near EF. Very rare.
Michael served in the office of logothetes tou stratiotikou (approximately a comptroller for military finances) and his elevation to the throne after the death of Theodora was a rather sly maneuver by court grandees to take control of the government. The church, the aristocracy, and the army all took a dim view of this, and the hapless Michael proved unable to win them over. When the general Isaac Comnenus revolted in June 1057 Michael quickly acceded to his demands for power sharing, but a few months later a conspiracy amongst the factions in Constantinople forced Michael's complete abdication.
Michael served in the office of logothetes tou stratiotikou (approximately a comptroller for military finances) and his elevation to the throne after the death of Theodora was a rather sly maneuver by court grandees to take control of the government. The church, the aristocracy, and the army all took a dim view of this, and the hapless Michael proved unable to win them over. When the general Isaac Comnenus revolted in June 1057 Michael quickly acceded to his demands for power sharing, but a few months later a conspiracy amongst the factions in Constantinople forced Michael's complete abdication.