Heritage World Coin Auctions
NYINC Signature Sale 3037 Sess. 2-4 5 January 2015
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Irene, joint reign with Constantine VI (AD 780-797). AV solidus (20mm, 4.43 gm, 6h). Constantinople, AD 792-797. IRIhH AΓOЧSTI, crowned facing bust of Irene, wearing loros, holding globus cruciger and cross-tipped scepter / COhSTAh-TIhOS bAS' Θ, crowned and draped facing bust of Constantine, holding globus cruciger and acacia. Sear 1594. DOC 3a. Well centered and evenly struck. Cleanly struck on a broad flan, with blazing luster. One of the finest specimens extant. NGC Choice AU 5/5 - 5/5.Irene was a legendary beauty from Athens who married the Emperor Leo IV and soon came to dominate domestic affairs in his government. When Leo died in 780, Irene ruled as regent for her adolescent son Constantine VI. Though the Isaurian dynasty had initiated iconoclasm and vigorously attacked the use of sacred images, Irene was a fervent iconodule and began the process of reversing the divisive policy. She called a church council at Nicaea in 787 that declared iconoclasm to be heretical. This won her enemies in the army, which was heavily iconoclast, and in 790 she was temporarily ousted in a coup led by her now 20-year-old son. But he showed no talent for ruling and recalled her two years later. This solidus belongs to Irene's second ascendency, AD 792-797, before she took the audacious step of seizing sole power for herself.
Estimate: 12000-15000 USD
Irene, joint reign with Constantine VI (AD 780-797). AV solidus (20mm, 4.43 gm, 6h). Constantinople, AD 792-797. IRIhH AΓOЧSTI, crowned facing bust of Irene, wearing loros, holding globus cruciger and cross-tipped scepter / COhSTAh-TIhOS bAS' Θ, crowned and draped facing bust of Constantine, holding globus cruciger and acacia. Sear 1594. DOC 3a. Well centered and evenly struck. Cleanly struck on a broad flan, with blazing luster. One of the finest specimens extant. NGC Choice AU 5/5 - 5/5.Irene was a legendary beauty from Athens who married the Emperor Leo IV and soon came to dominate domestic affairs in his government. When Leo died in 780, Irene ruled as regent for her adolescent son Constantine VI. Though the Isaurian dynasty had initiated iconoclasm and vigorously attacked the use of sacred images, Irene was a fervent iconodule and began the process of reversing the divisive policy. She called a church council at Nicaea in 787 that declared iconoclasm to be heretical. This won her enemies in the army, which was heavily iconoclast, and in 790 she was temporarily ousted in a coup led by her now 20-year-old son. But he showed no talent for ruling and recalled her two years later. This solidus belongs to Irene's second ascendency, AD 792-797, before she took the audacious step of seizing sole power for herself.
Estimate: 12000-15000 USD