Byzantine (1042) histamenon Sear-1827
This specimen was lot 29646 in Heritage sale 3035 (Long Beach, September 2014), where it sold for $223,250. The catalog description[1] noted,
"Zoë and Theodora (1042). AV histamenon nomisma (27 mm, 4.42 g, 6h axis). Constantinople, April-June 1042. + ΘKЄ RΘ TAC RACIΛICCIC / MP - ΘV, bust of the Virgin facing, orans, nimbate and wearing pallium with maphorium; before her, bust of infant Christ, with cruciform nimbus / +ZΩHN S ΘEOΔΩP, facing busts of Zoë (on left) and Theodora, each wearing divitision and maniakion, and crown with pinnacles and pendilia, holding between them labarum. Sear 1827. DOC 1. BN p. 631 (this coin cited). One of the classic rarities of the Byzantine series! NGC (photo-certificate) Choice AU? 5/5 - 5/5. From The Andre Constantine Dimitriadis Collection. Ex "An Important Private Collection of Byzantine Coins" (Sotheby's, 2 November 1998), lot 517; William Herbert Hunt Collection (Sotheby's New York, 5 December 1990), lot 765; Leu 15 (4 May 1976), lot 521; Hess-Leu 24 (16 April 1964), lot 453; Hess-Leu (2 April 1958), lot 440.
After the brief, disastrous reign of Michael V, the two elderly daughters of Constantine VIII ruled the Empire jointly for seven and a half weeks. The two women could not have been more different: Often-married Zoë was an power-hungry voluptuary who took innumerable lovers, while Theodora was an austere, scholarly spinster who detested court life. They could not stand one another and could not agree on any course of action, so a state marriage was hastily arranged for Zoë and her new husband ascended the throne as Constantine IX on June 12, 1042. Coins of the brief and unprecedented joint female reign are among the greatest rarities of the Byzantine series."
- [1]Michaels, David, Cristiano Bierrenbach and Sam Spiegel, Heritage Signature Auction 3035: Ancient Coins, Featuring the Lexington Collection of Jonathan K. Kern and the Andre Constantine Dimitriadis Collection, Dallas: Heritage Auction Galleries, 2014.
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