AV/EL Nomisma | 4.38g | Constantinople Mint | Ch XF Strike: 4/5 Surface: 3/5
Minted during one of Byzantium’s most fragile eras, this gold histamenon nomisma was struck under Emperor Michael VII Doukas, whose reign was defined by military defeats and spiraling economic decline — culminating in the empire’s devastating loss at the Battle of Manzikert in 1071.
The obverse features a majestic bust of Christ, nimbate and robed, offering a blessing while holding the Gospels — a central image in Byzantine coinage affirming the divine right of imperial rule. The reverse depicts Michael VII himself, standing in regal attire, crowned and holding a labarum and globus cruciger — symbols of power amid political instability.
Despite the economic turmoil of his reign, coins from this period retain exquisite artistic detail and powerful religious symbolism, making them highly sought after by collectors of sacred and imperial history.
