Byzantine Empire, Justinian I, 527-565, AV Solidus

Obv.: D N IVSTINIANVS P P AVI Helmeted and clothed bust of Justinian, holding a globe of the cross in his right hand, shield with equestrian representation on his left shoulder.  

Rev.: VICTORI A AVCCC / CONOB Angel standing, holding in right hand a cross staff and in left hand a cross globe; in field right a star. 

Historical

The emperor known as Justinian I is probably the best-known ruler of the Eastern Roman Empire and of Late Antiquity.

His reign, which lasted almost 40 years, was marked by the attempt to restore the Roman Empire (Justinian's work of restoration) and at the same time by the transition of the Roman Empire into the Byzantine Empire. He himself was the last Roman emperor whose mother tongue was Latin.

Justinian was born Flavius Petrus Sabbatius around 482 AD in Tauresium (Macedonia), the son of a peasant. His uncle Justin was making a career in the army at the time and soon brought Justinian to the capital Constantinople to give him a good education.

After Justin, as Justin I, ascended the Eastern Roman throne in 518, Justinian was built up bit by bit to be his successor. After being adopted by Justin, he was given the name suffix Iustinianus and went on to have a tremendous career. He soon acted as the emperor's most important advisor and was considered the official heir to the throne from 525 AD. Because of his rapid social rise, he was exposed to hostility from the senatorial upper class throughout his life.

After the death of his uncle on 1 August 527, Justinian, as Justinian I, became the new sole ruler of the Eastern Roman Empire. 

Christianisation 

Early in his reign, Justinian's strong attachment to the Christian faith was also evident. He claimed to have received his rule directly from God and zealously promoted Christianisation. The closing of the Neoplatonic school of philosophers in Athens in 529 is considered one of the striking events that signify the end of antiquity. Presumably, the pagan influence of the school was a thorn in Justinian's side.

In later years, his measures for the good of Christianity became even more radical: there were persecutions of non-Christians, infant baptism became compulsory and apostasy was punishable by death. In addition, there were book burnings of "pagan" literature. Only Judaism continued to be officially tolerated, although its situation deteriorated considerably.

Justinian's measures finally led to the last parts of Roman popular sovereignty being transformed into a strong divine sovereignty - a form of rule that was to dominate Europe throughout the Middle Ages. Some monarchs in Europe (e.g. Great Britain) still have the addition "by the grace of God" in their title. 

Byzantium, Andronikos II (1282-1328), AV Hyperpyron

Av.: bust of the Virgin Mary between towers
Rs.: Christus crowning the kneeling Andronikos II.

Special feature: The Hyperpyron, were the last so-called gold bowl coins minted in the Byzantine Empire with a high gold fineness (900/1000). The coins also depict Jesus and Mary on one side each.

EACH COIN IS UNIQUE !!! Please note: The coin delivered may differ minimally from the one shown!

You will receive: a noble and high-quality case as well as a certificate!

Historical

On the nominal:
The hyperpyron (Greek ὑπέρπυρον "super refined"), was a Byzantine gold coin minted since the coinage reform of 1092 under Emperor Alexios I Komnenos as a skyphat (bowl-shaped coin), which succeeded the histamenon as the standard gold coin.

Emperor Andronikos II.
Andronikos II Palaiologos (*1259 in Nikaia; †1332 in Constantinople) was Byzantine emperor from 282 to 1328. He was the eldest son of Emperor Michael VIII and from 1272 his crowned co-emperor.

During the reign of Andronikos II, the eastern border of the empire, already neglected under Michael VIII, finally collapsed and the Ottomans under their namesake Sultan Osman I conquered Byzantine Asia Minor except for a few fortified cities and their surrounding coastal strips. To counter this development, Andronikos first sent his son and co-ruler Michael (who is sometimes also referred to as Michael IX, although he never ruled independently), who as an energetic general had also tried to keep the enemies of the Byzantine Empire at bay in the Balkans. to Asia Minor.

Michael advanced rapidly with his troops in the spring of 1302, as the Turks shied away from an open field battle, but was then encircled at Magnesia (today Manisa) and had to retreat by sea. Andronikos then sent another army, this time led by the army commander Georgos Mouzalon, to sack the threatened cities of Nicomedia and Nikaia. But this rescue attempt also failed in the summer of 1302. In 1310 Andronikos succeeded in ending the long-simmering church dispute.

The blossoming of art and science in the years of his reign are referred to in older research as the "Palaiological Renaissance". Renaissance"; in fact, it was more an intensive cultural after-bloom of the cultural revivals of Michael VIII. revivals of Michael VIII after the reconquest of Constantinople (1261).

Byzantium, Andronikos II (1282-1328) & Michael IX. (1294/95-1320), AV Hyperpyron 

Obv.: bust of the Virgin Mary in front of city walls
Rev.: Andronikos and Michael kneeling sideways before Christ crowning both emperors

Special feature: The Hyperpyra were the last so-called gold bowl coins minted in the Byzantine Empire with a high gold fineness (900/1000).

EACH COIN IS UNIQUE !!!

You will receive: a noble and high-quality case as well as a certificate!

Please note: All images are stock images. You are buying the same type of coin in the same condition, not the piece shown.

Historic

To the nominal:
The hyperpyron (Greek ὑπέρπυρον "super refined" / plural: hyperpyra), was a Byzantine gold coin minted as a skyphat (bowl-shaped coin) since the coinage reform of 1092 under Emperor Alexios I Komnenos. This gold coin replaced the histamenon as the standard gold coin.

The Palaiologists:
The emperors Andronikos II (1282-1328) and Michael IX. (1294-1320) belonged to the so-called Palaiologians, these were the last imperial dynasty of the Byzantine Empire. They ruled the state from 1259 until the storming of Constantinople by the Ottomans in 1453. The last emperor from this dynasty was Constantine XI (1448-1453).

Andronikos II Palaiologos (1259-1332) was Byzantine emperor from 1282-1328.
He was the eldest son of Emperor Michael VIII and crowned co-emperor from 1272.

During the reign of Andronikos II, the eastern border of the empire, already neglected under Michael VIII, finally collapsed and the Ottomans under their eponymous Sultan Osman conquered Byzantine Asia Minor except for a few fortified cities and their surrounding coastal strips.

To counter this development, Andronikos dispatched his son and co-regent Michael, who, as an energetic general in the Balkans, tried to keep the enemies of the Byzantine Empire at bay. Michael IX ruled as Byzantine co-emperor from 1294/95 to 1320. He was the eldest son of Andronikos II Palaiologos and Anna of Hungary. A brave and energetic soldier who was willing to make personal sacrifices to pay and encourage his troops, Michael IX was, however, unable to overpower his enemies. He died before his father at the age of 43.

The blossoming of art and science in the years of Andronikos II. reign are referred to in older research as the "Palaiological Renaissance". Renaissance"; in fact, it was more an intensive cultural after-bloom of the cultural revivals of Michael VIII. revivals of Michael VIII after the reconquest of Constantinople (1261).

Byzantium, Isaac I (1057-1059), AV Scyphat

Constantinople
Obv.: Christ enthroned from the front
Rev: Emperor with sword drawn from scabbard

Expand your collection of Byzantine coins with a Scyphate of Isaac I! Minted for only two years!

Isaac I was a very religious ruler. Even as a child he was together with his brother at the behest of Emperor Basileios II.  in a study monastery. After completing his education the emperor placed him in a high position, which eventually enabled Isaac to ally himself with the nobility of Constantinople against Michael VI.  After the latter's deposition, he was crowned emperor and thus founded the Comnenian dy nasty. Although he is depicted as a warrior on his coins, Isaac I. only had one military interaction. After his successful campaign
against the Hungarians and Pechenegs, he fell ill and handed over the government to Constantine Dukas. Although Isaac I recovered, he decided against the imperial dignity and retired to a monastery instead, where he
where he died two years later.

Please note: The coin delivered may differ minimally from the one shown!

Byzantium, Nicephoros III (1078-1081), AV Scyphat

Constantinople
Obv.: Christ enthroned from the front
Rev: Emperor with labarum and cross on globe

As emperor of the Byzantine Empire, he didn't have it easy! Exclusively from Emporium: The gold of Nicephoros III.

Emperor Nicephoros III. came to power in challenging times. Upon assuming the throne, he replaced Emperor Michael VII from the Doukas family. However, he aligned himself with their tradition by marrying the wife of the deposed emperor, who had been forced to enter a monastery. During his reign, Nicephoros III. struggled to stabilize the empire economically, and the financial situation became increasingly precarious. The devaluation of Byzantine gold had already begun under Michael IV., but Nicephoros accelerated this process. Additionally, the emperor was unable to fend off external enemies, and there were frequent minor uprisings in the provinces. Ultimately, Alexios Komnenos leveraged his influence in the army to depose Nicephoros, who then retreated to a monastery.

Please note: The coin delivered may differ minimally from the one shown!