AV/EL Nomisma | 4.37g | Constantinople Mint | Strike: 4/5 | Surface: 2/5
This gold histamenon nomisma was issued during the reign of Michael VII Doukas, an emperor whose rule coincided with one of Byzantium’s most catastrophic defeats — the Battle of Manzikert in AD 1071. As imperial control crumbled in the East, the coinage of Michael VII remained a final expression of divine kingship and sacred authority.
The obverse features a solemn bust of Christ, haloed and holding the Gospels. On the reverse, Michael VII stands crowned, holding the labarum and globus cruciger — his pose noble, even as his reign unraveled.
This coin is graded with a Strike of 4/5 and Surface of 2/5, showing brushed surfaces and a minor edge crimp — common features for coins of this thin, hand-struck type.
