BYZANTINE. Michael VII Ducas. A.D. 1071-1078. Histamenon (4.32g). Constantinople mint. IC XC, bust of Christ Pantokrator facing, wearing tunic and pallium, right hand raised in benediction, holding the Gospels / +MICHAEL BASIL O D, bust of Michael VII facing, wearing loros and crown with pendilia, holding labarum and globus cruciger. DOC 2d; SB 1868. VF, with graffiti and minor deposits. This histamenon belongs to the tense years after Manzikert, when Byzantium relied heavily on sacred imagery, placing Christ's blessing beside the emperor's regalia to project divine sanction and continuity while the empire strained on multiple fronts.

Estimate: AUD 1000