Irene. 797-802. AV Solidus (20mm, 4.38 g, 6h). Constantinople mint. Near EF.

Triton XXVII
Lot: 958. Estimated: $ 2 000

Byzantine, Coin-in-Hand Video, Gold

Sold For $ 1 900. This amount does not include the buyer’s fee.

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Irene. 797-802. AV Solidus (20mm, 4.38 g, 6h). Constantinople mint. ЄIRInH ЬASILISSH, crowned facing bust, wearing loros, holding globus cruciger in right hand and cruciform scepter in left / • ЄIRIҺH ЬASILISSH (archaic Θ), crowned facing bust, wearing loros, holding globus cruciger in right hand and cruciform scepter in left. DOC 1a; Füeg 1.C.1; SB 1599. Some weakness at periphery. Near EF.

The accession of Irene, the first sole empress to rule the Byzantine state, caused some difficulty for those tasked with creating her coinage. Upon the deposition and gruesome blinding of her own son Constantine VI by her courtiers, it would be difficult to continue the previous status quo of the coinage depicting the new ruler on the obverse while honoring their predecessor or displaying an associate ruler on the reverse. Consequently, Irene elected to have her visage represented twice on both the obverse and reverse of her solidi. The precedent this set would see the technique employed again in future reigns. As an additional difficulty to overcome, this time linguistic, Irene was titled on her coinage in the dative; although, Grierson notes in DOC III.1 that she titled herself as basileus in her legislation. Following the Greek meaning of the word and given the nature of her unusual rise to power, her detractors may well have thought of her as Irene Tyrannos rather than as the Irene Basileus she desired to be.

The final winners of all Triton XXVII lots will be determined at the live public sale that will be held on 9-10 January 2024.

Triton XXVII – Session Three – Lot 648–983 will be held Wednesday morning, 10 January 2024 beginning at 9:00 AM ET.

Winning bids are subject to a 22.5% buyer's fee for bids placed on this website and 25% for all others.

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