Preview
Creation Date
1185–1195
Geography
Constantinople (Istanbul, Türkiye)
Culture
Byzantine
Medium
Billon
Dimensions
28 mm
0.16 oz. (4.4 g)
Credit Line
Gift of Brad Hostetler, 2022
Accession Number
2022.59
Condition
As of 9/5/2024: The coin is concave. There is a large crack in the left side from the edge of the coin through the border. There is a significantly wide, smooth border around the inscription that obscures portions of the inscription, particularly on the right side of the reverse. The face of the figure on the reverse is obscure, while the majority of the figural detail on the obverse is relatively clear.
References
Hendy, Michael F. 1999. Catalogue of the Byzantine Coins in the Dumbarton Oaks Collection and in the Whittemore Collection, vol. 4, Alexius I to Alexius V, 1081–1204. Washington, DC: Dumbarton Oaks Research Library and Collection, no. 3 (unclear variant), p. 377-387
Description
The obverse of this aspron trachy depicts a full length portrait of the Virgin Mary enthroned, on a throne with back. She is wearing a tunic and maphorion, or veil which covers her head and shoulders. The Virgin holds a beardless, haloed head of Christ against her breast. In the upper field is an identificatory inscription of Mary as the Mother of God.
The reverse depicts a full length portrait of the emperor Isaac II Angelus. He is dressed in a jeweled (as opposed to paneled) loros, a garment typically worn for major imperial ceremonies. In this instance, it appears in the simplified numismatic type, meaning it consists of a band that drapes over the shoulders and down the back of the emperor, rather than a garment that wraps around the figure’s entire body. Under the loros he wears in a divitision, or long tunic. Around his neck, the emperor wears a separate collar-piece decorated with three jewels. Around the emperor’s head is the stemma, the colorful, jeweled crown which indicates the figure’s imperial status; hanging from it on both sides of the head are pendilia, or gemmed pendants. The emperor also wears a sagion, a cloak typically worn by the emperor at times that he left the imperial palace (i.e., to enter church on a special occasion.) In his right hand, the emperor holds a hand scepter cruciger. In his left hand, the emperor holds the anexikakia, a silken cylinder filled with dust. The anexikakia served as a reminder of the emperor’s mortal status, despite his immense power, and was a warning against improper pride. The inscription, which identifies the figure as the Emperor Isaac II, surrounds his image in two columnar groups. In the upper right field is the Manus Dei, or Hand of God depicted by an image of a disembodied hand floating above.
Sonia Suben 2025