Constantine IX Monomachus. 1042-1055. AV Histamenon Nomisma (24.5mm, 4.44 g, 6h). Constantinople mint. Struck circa 1054-1055. EF.

CNG Feature Auction 133
Lot: 721. Estimated: $ 3 000

Byzantine, Coin-in-Hand Video, Gold

Sold For $ 9 000. This amount does not include the buyer’s fee.

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Constantine IX Monomachus. 1042-1055. AV Histamenon Nomisma (24.5mm, 4.44 g, 6h). Constantinople mint. Struck circa 1054-1055. Nimbate facing bust of Christ Pantokrator, raising hand in benediction and holding Gospels / Crowned facing bust of Constantine, wearing jeweled chlamys, holding globus cruciger and sword by the scabbard; two stars flanking crown. DOC 4a; Füeg II 4.B.1 (this coin cited in corpus); SB 1831. Toned. EF. Rare. A popular type.

From the Best Collection of Byzantine Coins. Ex William H. Williams Collection (Berk BBS 122, 6 September 2001), lot 103.

The meaning of the stars that appear on these rare histamena flanking the imperial bust has been a matter of some discussion. Hendy (DOC III, p. 734) suggested that they represented the 1054 appearance of SN 1054, a celestial event that was widely seen and recorded by Chinese, Japanese, and Arab astronomers, as well as the Mimbres and Anasazi in North America. Visible even in daylight from when it first appeared in the constellation of Taurus on 4 July 1054 until it faded in April 1056, Grierson (DOC III, p. 736) concluded that the supernova could not have escaped the notice of anyone interested in astronomy and "may conceivably have found its way onto the coins [since] the dates, at all events, seem to agree."

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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