Byzantine Empire, Leo V the Armenian and Constantine, 25 December 813 - 25 December 820 A.D. BZ114463. Bronze follis, Anastasi 488, DOC III-1 17, Wroth BMC 27, Morrisson BnF 30/Sy/AE/08, Tolstoi 24, Ratto 1806, Sommer 29.8, Spahr 373, SBCV 1636, VF, green patina, marks, ragged irregular flan squared by sprue cuts, 2.853g, 18.4mm, 180o, Syracuse mint, Λ-E/O (Leo), facing bust of Leo with short beard, wearing crown and loros, cross potent in right hand, star right; reverse K-ONCT (Konstantine), facing bust of Constantine, beardless, wearing crown and chlamys, globus cruciger in right hand, C-I (Sicily) across field In 815, Leo concluded a 30-year peace treaty with Khan Omurtag of Bulgaria. The treaty was honored by both sides and renewed after the accession of Michael II in 820. In 821, Thomas the Slav rebelled and laid siege to Constantinople to seize the Imperial throne. Omurtag sent an army to help Michael II put down the rebellion. Byzantine accounts report that Thomas' army was routed at the Battle of Kedouktos (winter 822 or spring 823), however, modern scholars consider the battle a victory, albeit costly, for the rebel. |