Byzantine Empire, Manuel I Comnenus, 8 April 1143 - 24 September 1180 A.D. BZ116897. Billon aspron trachy, DOC IV-1 13c; Wroth BMC 40; Morrisson BnF 61/Cp/B/17; Hendy pl. 17,1; Ratto 2127; SBCV 1966; Sommer 61.11, F, scyphate, typical imperfect alignment of strikes, light marks, 4.792g, 29.2mm, 180o, Constantinople (Istanbul, Turkey) mint, Christ, bearded, seated facing on throne without back, wearing nimbus cruciger, pallium, colobium, Gospels in left, IC - XC (Greek abbreviation: Ihsoús Xristós - Jesus Christ) flaking shoulders, no stars; reverse MANYHΛ ΔECΠ (Greek: Manuel, despot), Virgin Mary on right, standing left, nimbate, wearing pallium and maphorium, head flanked by M - Θ (Greek abbreviation: Μητηρ Θεου - Mother of God), crowns emperor with right hand, Manuel, on left, standing facing, wearing divitision, loros, and chlamys, labarum in right, globus cruciger in left Byzantine scyphate (cup shaped) types were struck twice and the hammered die was rocked from one side to the other between the strikes. Rarely do the two strikes line up perfectly. This strike is less than perfect but better than many.
The emperor's loros-waist has five pellets, and his collar-piece has three jewels. These features varied and were probably secret control marks. |