Here is a coin which neatly fits both my interest in Roman coins AND in Christian themed pieces. Issued under Byzantine emperor Romanus III, this Follis is generally called an “Anonymous” follis because it doesn’t include the emperor’s name.
My piece is, admittedly, not in the condition it left the Constantinople mint (Modern day Turkey) in sometime between 1028 – 1034 AD, so I will borrow the description from Numista:
Bust of Christ facing, bearded, with nimbate cross bearing a square in each limb of nimbus cross and a pellet in each upper quarter, raising right hand in blessing, holding with left hand a book of gospels inscribed with a dot in centre of dotted square.
Lettering:
EMMANOVHL
IC XC
Translation:
EMMANOVHL = God is with us
I(h)S(us) X(ri)S(tós) = Jesus Christ”
The reverse features a “Calvary cross“, a cross on three steps. The lettering (again from Numista), reads:
Lettering:
IS XS
BASILE
BASILE
Translation:
Jesus Christ
King of Kings
So, who was the Emperor? Romanos III Argyros was, by numerous accounts, arguably not Byzantine’s greatest emperor: “Sadly for Byzantium his was a reign of unproductive largesse and ineffective taxation”. He reigned from 1028 until his death in 1034. According to some sources, these Follis coins continued to be issued by his successor Michael IV until 1042. There are ways to tell them apart, although I’m actually not 100% what the signs are. CoinProject.com lists 9 Romanus III follis, and 3 Michael IV follis, although the text around the cross is different on each.
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