Heritage World Coin Auctions
NYINC Signature Sale 3037 Sess. 2-4 5 January 2015
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Theodora, sole reign (1055-1056). AV tetarteron nomisma (21mm, 4.09 gm, 6h). Constantinople. IC - XC, facing half-length bust of Christ Pantocrator, with cruciform nimbus, two pellets within each arm / + ΘЄOΔω AVΓOC, facing half-length bust of Theodora, wearing crown with pendilia, saccos, and loros, and holding globus cruciger in left hand and jeweled scepter in right. Sear 1838. DOC 2.8. Very rare. Struck on an exceptionally broad, medallic flan. NGC AU★ 5/5 - 5/5.Theodora was one of two daughters born to the Emperor Constantine VIII (AD 1025-1028). Unlike her sister Zoe, whom she detested, Theodora was bookish and solitary, preferring the life of the convent to the company of men. She was not above involving herself in the imperial family's intrigues, however, and in 1042 she briefly reigned as co-Empress with Zoe. However, the sisters could not agree on anything and Zoe was hastily married off to the aristocrat Constantine Monomachus, who accepted the throne as Constantine IX. Having outlasted all other members of the Macedonian dynasty, Theodora accepted the purple as sole ruler after the death of Constantine IX in January 1055. On the whole she ruled with frugality, caution and competence, but her micro-management of affairs earned criticism. After 18 months on the throne, she fell seriously ill and chose for her successor the highly unsuitable civil servant Michael VI Bringas. Her death in August 1056 brought the 187-year run of the Macedonian dynasty to a close.
Estimate: 4000-5500 USD
Theodora, sole reign (1055-1056). AV tetarteron nomisma (21mm, 4.09 gm, 6h). Constantinople. IC - XC, facing half-length bust of Christ Pantocrator, with cruciform nimbus, two pellets within each arm / + ΘЄOΔω AVΓOC, facing half-length bust of Theodora, wearing crown with pendilia, saccos, and loros, and holding globus cruciger in left hand and jeweled scepter in right. Sear 1838. DOC 2.8. Very rare. Struck on an exceptionally broad, medallic flan. NGC AU★ 5/5 - 5/5.Theodora was one of two daughters born to the Emperor Constantine VIII (AD 1025-1028). Unlike her sister Zoe, whom she detested, Theodora was bookish and solitary, preferring the life of the convent to the company of men. She was not above involving herself in the imperial family's intrigues, however, and in 1042 she briefly reigned as co-Empress with Zoe. However, the sisters could not agree on anything and Zoe was hastily married off to the aristocrat Constantine Monomachus, who accepted the throne as Constantine IX. Having outlasted all other members of the Macedonian dynasty, Theodora accepted the purple as sole ruler after the death of Constantine IX in January 1055. On the whole she ruled with frugality, caution and competence, but her micro-management of affairs earned criticism. After 18 months on the throne, she fell seriously ill and chose for her successor the highly unsuitable civil servant Michael VI Bringas. Her death in August 1056 brought the 187-year run of the Macedonian dynasty to a close.
Estimate: 4000-5500 USD