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Alexius I Comnenus. 1081-1118. AR Histamenon Nomisma (28mm, 3.90 g, 6h). Pre-Reform Coinage. Constantinople mint. Struck 1082-1087. Christ Pantokrator enthroned facing on suppedion / Crowned half-length facing bust of Alexius, holding cruciform scepter and globus cruciger. DOC 2b.2 var. (scepter type); SB 1893 var. (same); cf. Leu Web 7 (23 February 2019), lots 1565 and 1566 (for variety). Toned, porosity/roughness. Good Fine.
The pre-reform coinage of Alexius has some irregularities that one might expect to find within the series. However, this coin belongs to a group that probably should have its own sub-variety under SB 1893. On this coin and the other known examples, Alexius’ scepter is plain and cruciform and the cross on the globus cruciger is constructed in pelleted form rather than plain. Furthermore, the known examples of this variety appear to be silver histamena, not electrum such as the DOC examples of SB 1893 (there are some apparently silver examples of SB 1893; however, the only difference between these electrum and silver histamena is the metal quality). Finally, as a minute point, but one worth noting, the decoration and cutting of Alexius’ chlamys is very different on the true SB 1893s compared to the sub-variety in question here. See Hendy pl. 1, 1-4 for four clear examples of SB 1893.
Given that examples of this variety did not come to the market until after Sear Byzantine and DOC were published, it is not surprising that this coin is lacking a clear classification within the standard references. Despite this, the variety is known from a number of examples, however, it has formerly not been clearly distinguished from the SB 1893s. One recognized sub-variety by Sear is the lyre-shaped throne back cataloged as SB 1893A. Given that this coin is square-backed, as are the SB 1893s, the variety in question here should probably have been denoted before SB 1893A. However, until there is a reference update to this period of Byzantine numismatics, this coin and other examples of the same variety should be cataloged as SB 1893 and DOC 2b.2 varieties. For additional examples of this variety, see the following: Leu Web 7, 1565 and 1566; Leu Web 25, 3484; and Numismatik Naumann 143, 825.
Closing Date and Time: 2 July 2025 at 14:18:00 ET.
All winning bids are subject to a 20% buyer’s fee.
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