Coin Item Number: 3095/1434 from the MOA: University of British Columbia

Description

Byzantine coin of John I, 969-976. Obverse: large cross crosslet resting on two steps; in centre of cross, there is a circular medallion; within medallion, bust of John I, facing front; he wears a crown with cross and a loros, an embroidered and jewelled scarf; to left, within medallion, there is ‘[I]W’ in a vertical position; to right, within medallion, ‘AN’, also in a vertical position; to left, inscription says ‘InSϤSXRI’; to right, ‘STϤSnICA’, ending with a star; all enclosed within a triple border of dots, with eight pellets evenly spaced within the border. Reverse: there is an inscription of five lines, which begins with a cross, and says ‘IWAnn/EnXWAVTO/CRAT’EVSEb/bASILEVS/RWMAIW’; above and beneath inscriptions, there are crosses made up of dots; all enclosed within a double border of dots, also with eight pellets evenly spaced within the border. The inscription on the obverse in translation says ‘May Jesus Christ Conquer’. The inscription on the reverse in translation says ‘John, by the Grace of Christ, Absolute Ruler, Pious King of the Romans’.

History Of Use

“Miliaresion” (denomination); DO# 7; Sear# 1792.