Byzantine bronze follis coin pendant with Jesus Christ & Virgin Mary, 1068 AD-1071 AD

拍品描述

Byzantine bronze follis coin pendant with Jesus Christ & Virgin Mary, 1068 AD-1071 AD; Height of the coin: 27 mm; Width of the coin: 25 mm; Weight of the pendant with coin: 13.64 g; Provenance: Near Eastern collection; • Denomination: Follis;; • Date: 1068 - 1071 AD • Emperor: Romanus IV; • Obverse (Front): Jesus Christ Holding the Gospels in Left Hand and Right Hand Raised in Benediction - to the left and right of Christ: IC XC; • Reverse (Back): The Virgin Mary, left MP, right, ΘV meaning "Mother of God" • Coin Metal: Bronze; • Mint: Constantinople; • Bezel Metal: antique silver; • Articulating Bail Interior Diameter: Will accommodate chain or leather necklace up to 6.2 mm; • Pendant Size including the bezel: 1 1/8” Across, 1 1/2” Tall - almost the width of a 50 cent piece; By the early 5th Century, the once dominant Roman Empire was a fragmented collection of on-again, off-again allied or warring regions. Divided roughly between the western and eastern halves of the empire, the glory of Rome was no longer. Out of the ashes of this once great society rose the empire that would dominate European culture, economics and warfare for close to a millennium: The Eastern Roman, or Christian Byzantine Empire. It is from this mighty Christian empire, surrounded by non-christian kingdoms, that this regal bronze follis comes. Bearing a portrait of Jesus Christ with the book of the Gospels on the front, on the back is the bold cross. By the rule of Emperor Justinian II (685–695), Byzantine coins were becoming more distinctly “Byzantine” in both art and symbolism. Justinian was the first to picture Jesus Christ on the obverse of his coinage, with a half, or full-length depiction of the Emperor on the reverse.

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