Michael VII Ducas (AD 1071-1078). AV/EL histamenon nomisma scyphate (30mm, 4.41 gm, 6h). NGC

Description

Byzantine Empire: Michael VII Ducas

Reign: AD 1071-1078
Denomination: AV/EL Histamenon Nomisma Scyphate
Mint: Constantinople
Weight: 4.41 g
Diameter: 30 mm
Orientation: 6h

Obverse:

• Design: Bust of Christ facing, wearing a nimbus cruciger with five pellets in each arm, a pallium, and a colobium. Christ raises his right hand in benediction and cradles a book of Gospels in his left arm. The inscription IC-XC (barred) is across the fields, surrounded by a double border.
• Inscription: IC-XC (barred)

Reverse:

• Design: Bust of Michael VII facing, bearded, wearing a crown surmounted by a cross with pendilia and a loros. He holds a labarum in his right hand and a globus cruciger in his left. The inscription reads +MIX-AHΛ-RACIA O Δ, surrounded by a double border.
• Inscription: +MIX-AHΛ-RACIA O Δ

References:

• Sear 1868

Condition:

• Grading: NGC Choice XF 5/5 – 2/5
• Notes: Graffito

Historical Context:

Michael VII Ducas, who ruled from 1071 to 1078, was a Byzantine emperor during a tumultuous period marked by political instability and military defeats. His reign followed the disastrous Battle of Manzikert in 1071, which had severely weakened Byzantine authority and territorial control in Anatolia.

The coinage from Michael VII’s reign reflects traditional Byzantine iconography, with a prominent depiction of Christ on the obverse and the emperor on the reverse. The use of Christ’s image on Byzantine coins symbolized divine authority and legitimacy, while the portrayal of the emperor on the reverse emphasized his role as God’s earthly representative.

Michael VII’s reign saw significant challenges, including internal strife and external threats. His inability to effectively address these issues led to his eventual deposition and replacement by Nikephoros III. The period also witnessed the rise of the Comnenian dynasty, which would later restore some stability to the empire.

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