v11_0563 - BASIL I "THE MACEDONIAN" Solidus

MONNAIES 11 (2002)
Starting price : 457.35 €
Estimate : 609.80 €
Realised price : 474.12 €
Number of bids : 2
Maximum bid : 479.45 €

Type : Solidus

Date: 868-879

Mint name / Town : Constantinople

Metal : gold

Millesimal fineness : 1000 ‰

Diameter : 20 mm

Orientation dies : 6 h.

Weight : 4,33 g.

Rarity : R1

Coments on the condition:

Beaux portraits. Usure régulière

Catalogue references :

BMC/B.2 - R.1858 - Do.2 - BN/B.4 - BC.1704 (450£)

Predigree :

Exemplaire provenant d’une vente Vinchon

Obverse

Obverse legend : + IHS XPS REX -REGNANTIYM*.

Obverse description : Le Christ nimbé, vêtu du pallium et du colombium trônant de face, bénissant de la main droite et tenant les Évangiles de la gauche.

Reverse

Reverse legend : BASILIOS ET COHSTAHT AYGG' B'.

Reverse description : Bustes de Basile à gauche et de Constantin à droite de face, couronnés, vêtus pour le premier du loros, pour le second de la chlamyde, tenant ensemble la croix patriarcale.

Historical background

BASIL I "THE MACEDONIAN"

(23/09/867-28/08/886)

Basil was associated with the throne on May 26, 866 by Michael III the Drunkard and became sole emperor after having assassinated him. He reigned alone for a year, then associated to the throne in 868 his favorite son Constantine, who died in 879. Under the reign of Basil I, Syracuse fell into the hands of Islam and in 878, Sicily was definitively lost. Basil's reign was a period of consolidation. The emperor collected all of Justinian's legal works better known as the Basilica. Basil died in a hunting accident.