John I Zimisces, 969-976. Histamenon (Gold, 27 mm, 6.80 g, 6 h), Constantinopolis. +IҺS XPS RЄX RЄςNANTInm Nimbate bust of Christ facing, wearing tunic and pallium, raising his right hand in benediction and holding book of Gospels in his left; on the mount, +XЄ T[...]OC M૪ COCЄ T૪C ΠΙCTЄBONTAC ICЄ. Rev. +ΘЄOTOC bOHΘ Iω'δЄSP On the right, half-length nimbate figure of the Virgin facing, placing her right hand on the head of John I, wearing crown, surmounted by small cross, and loros; holding between them patriarchal cross; in upper left field, manus Dei; in upper right field, ΜΘ; on the mount, +ΘЄOCTЄΦΤI C[KЄ]ΠЄTЄ Δ૪ΛΟΝ CAC TON ΘΡΑΚΙCI. DOC 3. SB 1785. Set in an original contemporary gold mount with a highly interesting inscription. Edge cut and some flan cracks, otherwise, nearly very fine.


The obverse inscription on the mount reads 'Christ, my ..., save those who believe in you'. Unfortunately, the edge damage obscures part of the initial legend, but the letter before …OC seems to be a kappa or chi. Perhaps the legend originally read T[ЄIX]OC ('my wall', or 'my castle' in the figurative sense). Another possibility would be T[O Φ]OC (my light), spelled with omicron. The reverse inscription can be read 'Crowned by God (referring to the Mother of God), protect your servant, the Thracesian.' Evidently, the owner of this medallion chose to refer to himself by his geographical origin, not his personal name. It is also possible to read a plural genitive 'of the Thracesians', which would suggest the commissioner of this piece was a commander (strategos) of the Thracesian theme. The inscription on the mount was evidently conceived with the framed coin in mind, as on the obverse it invokes Christ, and on the reverse the Mother of God.