BZ113703. Bronze follis, Bendall Trebizond p. 133, 13B & pl. 7, 19; DOC IV-1 p. 433, 13b; undertype: anonymous follis class D, E, or F, F, off center, overstruck on a clipped anonymous follis with undertype rev. prominent on the obv., 3.528g, 22.0mm, 180^o, Trebizond (Trabzon, Turkey) mint, facing bust of Christ Pantokrator, bearded and nimbate, wearing tunic and himation, Gospels in right hand, IC - XC (Greek abbreviation: Ihsoús Xristós - Jesus Christ) across field (all mostly off flan); undertype: part of two lines from inscription from reverse of anonymous follis [IS] XS / [BA]SILE; reverse cross potent on base and one step, a globule at the end of each arm, AΛBP (Greek: AΛΕΞIΩ BAΣIΛΕYΣ PΩMAIΩN - Alexius king of the Romans) in angles, Arab countermark 'Lillah' (For Allah) ; rare

 

The general Theodore Gabras captured Trebizond and ruled it and the theme of Chaldia as a virtually autonomous state (c. 1081 - 1098). He was celebrated for his martial exploits, and was later venerated as a saint in the region. Following the dissolution of the Byzantine Empire by the Fourth Crusade in 1204, the region became the center of the new Empire of Trebizond which survived until falling to the Ottomans in 1461.