Histamenon of Romanus III, Constantinople

Artists

Description

Obv.: Christ seated on square-backed throne (Type IIa) facing, bearded, with cross nimbus, wearing tunic and himation; r. hand raised in blessing in cloak; l. hand holds book by upper edge on knee. Rev.: To l. emperor Romanos standing facing, wearing modified loros with four pellets at the end, and crown with cross and pendilia, holding right hand to breast and globe cruciger in l. To r. Virgin , standing facing, nimbate, wearing tunic and maphorion, crowning emperor with r. and holding l. hand on breast. Between heads M and Theta

Dimensions

4.40g

Provenance

Jane Ayer Scott, Newton MA (by 2008), by inheritance; to her husband Wellington F. Scott III, (2008-2010), gift; to The Harvard Art Museums, 2010. There is no further information available about where Jane Scott purchased the coin. Byzantine coins, even gold solidi, were struck by the millions and circulated widely in the Byzantine Empire from Spain, Italy to Greece, Bulgaria, the Balkans, Israel, Turkey and Syria.