Antonios III Stoudites, Synkellos and Patriarch of Constantinopolis, 973-978. Tessera (Bronze, 20 mm, 5.10 g, 12 h). IhS XIS RЄX RЄςNANTIЧM Nimbate bust of Christ facing, wearing tunic and pallium, raising his right hand in benediction and holding book of Gospels in his left. Rev. ANTⲰNIⲰC or ANTⲰNI(o)C in monogram form; in the wedges of the monogram, CYΓ - ΚЄΛ / OCT - OYΔ; all within floral design. Unpublished and of great interest. Very fine.

This very interesting and unusual tessera was likely issued by Antonios III Stoudites, Patriarch of Constantinopolis in 973-978. We kindly thank A. U. Sommer, R. Feind and D. Stichel for their valuable contributions to the discussion of this issue