Gemini XIII

Last Coin Struck by the Roman Empire

262.

Constantine XI.

1448-1453 AD. Silver Stavraton,

6.59g (6h). Constantinople, 1453 AD. Obv: Facing

bust of Christ, wearing nimbus cruciger and hold-

ing Gospels. Rx: Facing bust of Constantine XI. S.

Bendall, “The Coinage of Constantine XI, “ Revue

Numismatique 1991, no. 91 (this coin). One of the

finest of only seventeen surviving stavrata of the last

Byzantine/Roman emperor that may be attributed to

the time of the actual siege of Constantinople by the

Ottomans, before the city fell on 25 May 1453. EF

$45,000

Only two coins were known for Constantine XI

until a new group came to light. Nearly half of

the new specimens were struck for the coronation

of Constantine XI in 1448, but seventeen stavrata

were struck during the siege of Constantinople that

ended May 25, 1453. Constantinople, the last city

of the Romans, was out of money and out of back-

ing. Their cannon maker defected to the Ottomans.

Other important craftsmen also left, including

their die cutter. It is said that the last stavrata were

made from silver ornaments and implements taken

from the churches. The portraits of Christ on the

siege coins are in competent style, perhaps being

struck from dies prepared earlier, but the portraits

of Constantine XI are extremely crude, as our coin

shows. Of the seventeen siege coins that exist, ours

is one of only five that bear the actual name of

Constantine, and is moreover one of the best pre-

served

263.

Andronicus I Gidon. Emperor of

Trebizond.

1222-1235 AD. Aspron trachy, 2.83g

(5h). Obv: The Virgin Mary standing right, placing

right hand on chest, left hand raised in benediction;

six-pointed star to left. Rx: Christ standing facing,

right hand raised in benediction, holding Gospels in

left. Sear 2148. DOC IV, pl. 37, 1. Bendall 1. Mint

State

$500

264.

Liveros, Byzantine Lead Seal.

46.25g (11h).

Daniel in the Lions’ Den. 13th-14th cent. AD. Obv:

Daniel standing facing, raising both forearms in

prayer, flanked by attacking lions at feet; O/ΠP/

OΦI/TH/C (ΠP ligate) down left field; Δ/A/NI/

HΛ down right field (“The Prophet Daniel”). Rx:

Greek inscription in seven lines: [K]PITHC ΔA/

[NI]HΛ KAI ΓP/[AΦ]ΩN NVN Π/[POC]TATHC

TEΛEH/[CE]BACT ΛIBEPOY/ ΠPAXEIC KPI/

NΩN (Ns retrograde). Translation: “Oh, Judge

Daniel, now guardian even of writings, give judg-

ment and execute the deeds of the revered Liveros”.

Old Testament subjects are very rare. The fourth

recorded specimen. This seal is of exceptional qual-

ity. Nearly flawless and by far the finest known. EF

$2,000

Enlargement