Byzantine Empire, Constantine V and Leo IV, joint reign 6 June 751 - 14 September 775 A.D. BZ117411. Bronze follis, DOC III-1 11, Wroth BMC 23, Morrisson BnF 23/Cp/AE/02, Tolstoi 54, Ratto 1754, SBCV 1556, Sommer 23.5, aVF, dark patina, rough, off center, 2.085g, 16.7mm, 180o, Constantinople (Istanbul, Turkey) mint, facing busts of Constantine V, on left, bearded, and Leo IV, on right, beardless, both wear a crown with cross and chlamys, cross between their heads; reverse facing bust of Leo III with short beard, wearing crown with cross and loros, cross potent in right hand, cross right, all above horizontal line; below line large M (40 nummi), X left, N right, A below ; very scarce
Constantine V was a successful military commander, defeating Bulgarians and Umayyad Muslims. Unfortunately his iconoclast policies diminished Byzantine influence in the West and he lost Ravenna to the Lombards in 751 A.D. |