Sale: Triton V, Lot: 2310. Estimate $2500.  Closing Date: Wednesday, 16 January 2002.  Sold For $3500. This amount does not include the buyer’s fee.

ALEXIUS I. 1081-1118. EL Histamenon (4.24 gm). Struck 1081-1092 AD(?). Constantinople mint(?). Christ seated on bench facing; IC XC to either side of bench, crescent to either side of head / + [ALEI]IW ÐECPOT, half-length figure of Alexius standing facing, holding orb and akakia; manus Dei to left, large stars to either side. DOC IV -; BN -; SB -. EF. One of just two or three known. ($2500)

This coin has stars similar to the coin of Constantine IX, but no well known astronomical event coincided with the issue. It is different than Alexius' coin which is assumed to refer to the comet seen during his visit to Thessalonica in 1105/1106 (DOC IV 23c; SB 1927).