Nicephorus II Phocas. 963-969. AV Histamenon Nomisma (21mm, 4.43 g, 6h). Constantinople mint. Near EF.

CNG Feature Auction 133
Lot: 709. Estimated: $ 1 000

Byzantine, Coin-in-Hand Video, Gold

Sold For $ 2 625. This amount does not include the buyer’s fee.

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Nicephorus II Phocas. 963-969. AV Histamenon Nomisma (21mm, 4.43 g, 6h). Constantinople mint. Nimbate facing bust of Christ Pantokrator, raising hand in benediction and holding Gospels / Facing half-length busts of the Theotokos and Nicephorus, wearing crown and loros, together holding patriarchal cross between them. DOC 4; Füeg 3.B.1 (this coin cited in corpus; corr. additional pedigree to Berk BBS 124 is erroneous); SB 1778. Toned, edge mark. Near EF.

From the Best Collection of Byzantine Coins. Ex Berk BBS 121 (10 July 2001), lot 85.

The untimely death of Constantine VII’s son, Romanus II, at the young age of twenty-four led to an interlude of military emperors before Romanus’ own young sons, future emperors Basil II and Constantine VIII, could assume the purple. Nicephorus II Phocas was a capable, albeit aging, ruler and commander. He notably oversaw the reconquest of Crete, Cyprus, and Antioch. During his successful campaigns, he also sacked Aleppo and forced the city to pay tribute. Additionally, Nicephorus married Romanus II’s widowed empress, Theophano. This would prove central to his undoing as the much younger empress took a lover, Nicephorus’ own nephew, the prominent military commander, John Tzimisces. Nicephorus consequently stripped John of his titles and command but ultimately fell victim to an assassination plot orchestrated by the conniving couple. In the aftermath, John was crowned as Emperor John I. However, the Patriarch, Polyeuctus, only did so on the condition that John banish his scheming lover. John thus sent Theophano into exile and instead married Romanus II’s sister, Theodora.

The final winners of all CNG Feature Auction 133 lots will be determined at the live online sale that will be held on 15-16 September 2026.

CNG Feature Auction 133 – Session Three – Lot 595-896 will be held Wednesday morning, 16 September 2026 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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