2019-06-06 Thu

Constantine VII Porphyrogenitus was the fourth Emperor of the Macedonian dynasty of the Byzantine Empire, reigning from 913 to 959. He was the son of the emperor Leo VI and his fourth wife, Zoe. Today on this day in 913, Constantine VII becomes nominal ruler of the Byzantine Empire, under the regency of a seven-man council headed by Patriarch Nicholas Mystikos, appointed by his uncle Alexander III on his deathbed. During his reign gold, silver, and copper issued from Constantinople and Cherson mint. Depicted here is a gold Solidus Issued under his reign from Constantinople mint. The obverse of a coin depicts the full-length figure of Christ, seated on a throne with a curved back, wearing nimbus cruciger, pallium, and colobium, right hand raised in benediction, a book of Gospels in left. On the other hand, the reverse of a coin has crowned standing figures of Constantine VII (on right), bearded, wearing loros with cross on sleeve, and Romanus II (shorter, on left), wearing chlamys with cross on front, both on rectangular dais, each holding globus cruciger in outer hand and jointly holding long patriarchal cross with globular terminus between them. Image Source: Heritage Auctions