Michael Rhangabe was a Byzantine Emperor who reigned from 811 to 813 AD. His father, Theophylact Rhangabe, was the admiral of the Aegean fleet.

The son-in-law of Emperor Nicephorus I, Michael was proclaimed emperor by a coup, despite the claims of Nicephorus’s son Stauracius, who had been injured in Bulgaria. He attempted to carry out a policy of reconciliation, abandoning the exacting taxation instituted by Nicephorus I.

His coinage in all metals is extraordinarily rare. These coins were issued in the denomination of Solidus, Miliaresion, and Follis from Constantinople and Syracuse mint.

The above shown gold Solidus was issued during his reign from Constantinople mint. The obverse of this coin shows the crowned facing bust of Michael, wearing chlamys, holding globus cruciger in right hand and acacia in left. On the other hand, the reverse side portrays the crowned facing bust of Theophylactus, wearing loros, holding globus cruciger in right hand and cross-tipped scepter in left.

Image Source: Heritage Auctions