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Product Description
This beautiful Roman Byzantine anonymous bronze follis coin was minted during the reign of Emperor Constantine X, dating from 1059 - 1067 AD. It is of the Class E type, and has a HIGHLY DESIRABLE green encrusted patina that highlights the image of Christ and the reverse inscription. The obverse shows a facing bust of a nimbate Christ Pantocrator, holding the gospels. In Christian iconography, Christ Pantocrator (Christ the Almighty) is a specific depiction of Christ. Pantocrator or Pantokrator, literally "ruler of all", but usually translated as "Almighty" or "all-powerful". The reverse shows the inscription, IҺSЧS XRISTЧS ЬASILЄЧ ЬASILЄ, meaning 'Jesus Christ, King of Kings".
HISTORY
Starting with emperor John I Tzimisces during his rule which began in 969 AD, and lasting for over a century until Alexius' coinage reform in 1092 AD, the production of follis denomination Byzantine coins featured not an emperor, but religious Christian motifs which included included Jesus Christ, and even the Virgin Mary. These coins were designed to honor Christ and recognize the subservient role of the Byzantine emperor, with many of the reverse inscriptions translating to "Jesus Christ King of Kings" and "May Jesus Christ Conquer". The follis denomination coins were the largest bronze denomination coins issued by the Byzantine empire, and their large size, along with the Christian motif make them a popular coin type for collectors.