Byzantine Empire, Constantine V and Leo IV, joint reign 6 June 751 - 14 September 775 A.D.
BZ117410. 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, green patina, light earthen deposits, tight flan, ragged edge, 2.022g, 17.5mm, 180o, Constantinople (Istanbul, Turkey) mint, facing busts of Constantine V (on left) and Leo IV (on right), both wear crown with cross and chlamys, cross between their heads; reverse facing bust of Leo III with short beard, wearing crown and loros, holding cross potent, 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.