Byzantine Empire, Leo IV and Constantine VI, 24 April 776 - 8 September 780 A.D.
BZ117412. Bronze follis, DOC III-1 4, Morrisson BnF 25/Cp/AE/01, Wroth BMC 11, Tolstoi 11, Ratto 1772, SBCV 1586, Sommer 24.4, F, well centered, dark patina, corrosion, scratches, porosity, 4.963g, 23.9mm, 180o, Constantinople (Istanbul, Turkey) mint, facing busts Leo IV, on left, bearded, and Constantine VI, on right, beardless, each wears crown with cross and chlamys, cross above, no inscription; reverse facing bust of Leo III and Constantine V, each with short beard, each wears crown, loros and holds cross potent, B-A (Greek abbreviation: βασιλεις - kings) flanking, all above horizontal line; below the line: large M with smaller X left, N right, and A below
The emperors on the obverse were the current rulers of the empire. Constantine VI was the only child of Emperor Leo IV. He was elevated to co-emperor in 751, while still an infant. He would succeed his father. The emperors on the reverse were deceased. Constantine V was Leo IV's father, and Leo III was his grandfather. When this coin was struck the letter M was on both follis and half follis. It no longer represented 40 nummi. The letters BA are found only on the folles, not the half folles.