Nomos 38

Constantine IX Monomachus, 1042-1055. Histamenon nomisma (Gold, 22 mm, 4.44 g, 6 h), flat fabric, Constantinople, 1055. + IhS XIS RЄX RЄςNANTIhm Facing bust of Christ Pantokrator, wearing tunic, himation and a nimbus cruciger, raising his right hand in benediction and holding Book of Gospels in his left. Rev. + CωhSTANT-hoS b-ASILЄЧς Rm Half-length bust of Constantine IX facing, wearing jewelled chlamys ornamented with a four-pointed star, holding globus cruciger in his right hand and a scabbarded sword with his left; in the field to left and right, star of eight rays. DOC 4b. Füeg 4.b.2. SB 1831. Very rare. Toned. Obverse weakly struck and with uncleaned deposits on the reverse, otherwise, good very fine.

From the Bollen Collection of Byzantine Coins and the collection of W.H Hunt, Sotheby's, 5 December 1990, 778, ex Bank Leu 2, 25 April 1972, 491.

The difference in fabric between this piece and the example in the previous lot (flat versus concave and smaller in diameter) indicates that the present piece was struck at the end of Constantine IX's reign. This change from the scyphate fabric continued on into the reign of Theodora but was then abandoned.