"Follis of Constantine VII and Romanos I"
 

Creator

Preview

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Creation Date

931–944

Geography

Minted in Constantinople

Culture

Byzantine

Medium

Bronze

Dimensions

25 mm

7.59 g

Credit Line

Long-term Loan from Brad Hostetler, 2025

Accession Number

2025.2

Condition

The coin is in fair condition. An oxidized green color and the overstrike obscure parts of the design, but the letters and details are mostly legible. There are no inhibiting minting marks or damage to the coin, except for a few small dents at the upper right-hand edge of the coin. (December 2024)

References

Philip Grierson, Catalogue of the Byzantine Coins in the Dumbarton Oaks Collection and in the Whittemore Collection, vol. 3, Leo III to Nicephorus III, 717–1081 (Washington, DC: Dumbarton Oaks Research Library and Collection, 1973), pp. 563–64 (DOC 23b).

Description

This copper alloy coin, termed a follis, was minted in Constantinople sometime between 931 and 944. It is from the reign of Constantine VII, who technically ruled from 908 to 959, but only had solitary rule from 945 to 959.

The obverse design is mildly obscured due to the fact that it overstruck an older coin. We see a front-facing bust of Constantine’s co-emperor, Romanos I Lekapenos, adorned with a tablion-decorated chlamys (embroidered panel cloak), and holding a labarum (military standard). The text forming a semi-circle over his head reads, “Romanos, Emperor of the Romans.” Additionally, Romanos does not hold a globus cruciger; instead there are a series of diagonal lines at the emperor’s left hand, where it appears on other coins. On the reverse we see exclusively text, with four lines reading “Romanos, by God, Emperor of the Romans,” with moderate fragmentation across the inscription.

Constantine VII Porphyrogennetos was born in 905 to Leo VI of the Macedonian Dynasty, and his wife Zoe. For the majority of his life, Constantine did not have sole or even dominant power as emperor, as is evident on this coin. Despite being categorized as minted under the reign of Constantine VII, the coin solely features his senior emperor Romanos. After his daughter Helena was married to Constantine, Romanos exploited his own military prowess and influence and usurped the throne, diverting power from the young heir by playing on the perceived weakness of the Macedonian Dynasty. Many different combinations of royal figures were minted on coins during the lifetime of Constantine VII, including images of his father, mother, himself, Romanos, and Romanos’ sons; but this particular coin, minted in the decade before the usurper Lekapenos family were removed from power, features solely Romanos as emperor. In 944, Romanos and his sons were ousted and arrested by Constantine, who regained solitary rule. This coin is demonstrative of the dynamic between Romanos and Constantine during the two-decade period of Romanos’ co-rule, and shows how coinage reflected the power of Romanos as the senior emperor.

Olivia Akhavein (Florida State University, ’26) for ARH 2020 Reading and Writing Art History (fall 2024), taught by Dr. Lynn Jones.

2025.2_002.jpg (784 kB)
Obverse

2025.2_003.jpg (1310 kB)
Reverse

2025.2_diagram1.jpg (182 kB)
2025.2_diagram2.jpg (137 kB)

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