1 Histamenon Byzantine Empire (330-1453) Gold Michael VII Doukas ...

1078, Byzantine Empire, Michael VII. Gold Histamenon Nomisma Coin

Mint Period: 1071-1078

Mint Place: Constantinople

Emperor: Michael VII Ducas

Denomination: Gold Histamenon Nomisma

References: Friedberg 264, DOC III., SB 1868.

Diameter: 29mm

Weight: 4.34gm

Material: Gold!

Obverse: Crowned half-lenght bust of Michael VII facing, holding labarum and globus cruciger.

Legend: ⧾ MIXAHΛ RACIΛ OΔ

Reverse: Nimbate half-lenght bust of Jesus Christ facing, ook of gospels. Christogram (IC-XC) across field.

In Eastern Christianity, the most widely used Christogram is a four-letter abbreviation, ICXC * a traditional abbreviation of the Greek words for “Jesus Christ” (i.e., the first and last letters of each of the words “IHCOYC XPICTOC” with a transliteration of the lunate sigma common in medieval Greek as “C”). On icons, this Christogram may be split: “IC” on the left of the image and “XC” on the right, most often with a bar above the letters (see titlos), indicating that it is a sacred name. It is sometimes rendered as “ICXC NIKA”, meaning "Jesus Christ Conquers."

Michael VII Doukas or Ducas (Greek: Μιχαήλ Δούκας), nicknamed Parapinakes (Greek: Παραπινάκης, lit. “minus a quarter”, with reference to the devaluation of the Byzantine currency under his rule), was the senior Byzantine emperor from 1071 to 1078. He was known as incompetent as an emperor and reliant on court officials, especially of his finance minister Nikephoritzes, who increased taxation and luxury spending while not properly financing their army (which later mutinied). Under his reign, Bari was lost and his empire faced open revolt in the Balkans. Along with the advancing Seljuk Turks in the eastern front, Michael also had to contend with his mercenaries openly turning against the empire. Michael stepped down as emperor in 1078 and later retired to a monastery.