BYZANTINE. Nicephorus I, with Stauracius. A.D. 802-811. Gold Solidus (4.43g). Constantinople mint. Struck A.D. 803-811. Crowned facing bust of Nicephorus, wearing chlamys, holding cross potent and akakia / Crowned facing bust of Stauracius, wearing chlamys, holding globus cruciger and akakia; (E) at end of legend. DOC 2a; Fueg 2.C.1; SB 1604. Lightly toned and lustrous, with slight weakness. gVF. This coin evokes the catastrophic defeat of Emperor Nicephorus I at the Battle of Pliska in 811. After sacking the Bulgarian capital and refusing peace, his army was trapped and destroyed; Nicephorus was killed in battle and his heir Stauracius was fatally wounded. Theophanes called it the loss of 'the flower of Christendom,' while Khan Krum famously had the emperor's skull mounted in silver and used it as a drinking cup, a stark symbol of Byzantine humiliation. (P)

Estimate: AUD 3000