2015-12-08 Tue

Continued from Part II... Sophia Sophia was the niece of Empress Theodora and wife of the Byzantine Emperor, Justin II. She took control of the empire’s affairs after her husband’s behaviour became increasingly erratic due to the loss of a strategic fortress coupled with an outbreak of plague in the empire. Sophia has never appeared on the gold coins or on the rare silver coins issued during Justin’s reign. She is, however, depicted on Bronze coins. She is shown enthroned next to Justin and both figures are shown with a nimbus, symbolising their divinity. One of the finest known specimens of this type of coin was sold for over US $3000 in 2014. Subsequent issues show a steady deterioration in the workmanship of the dies. Anna of Savoy Anna of Savoy was the last woman to appear on Byzantine coins. She was the daughter of Amadeo, Count of Savoy and was married to Andronikos III Palaiologos, Emperor of a Byzantine state comprised of Constantinople and a few islands and coastal outposts around the Aegean. She ruled as a regent for her nine-year old son, John V, after her husband’s death. The coins issued during her regency were crude and carelessly struck in debased gold and surviving specimens bear edge cracks. The inscriptions on the coins are garbled and fragmented. The obverse depicts images of Anna of Savoy and her son, John V. These images look like stick figures. The reverse depicts a deceased Andronikos kneeling before Christ.