Constantine IX Monomachus, 1042-1055. Histamenon (Gold, 27 mm, 4.36 g, 6 h), Constantinopolis, 1054-1055. +IhS XIS RЄX RЄςNANTIҺm Nimbate bust of Christ facing, wearing tunic and pallium, raising his right hand in benediction and holding book of Gospels in his left. Rev. +CⲰnSTAҺTnO bASILEЧS Rm Bust of Constantine IX facing, wearing loros decorated with a star and crown with pendilia, holding globe surmounted by simple cross in his right hand and sword in his left; in fields to left and right, eight-pointed stars (effaced). DOC 4a. SB 1831. Rare and very unusual with the effaced stars. Struck from a slightly worn reverse die and with some scuffs on the reverse, otherwise, good very fine.


The stars on the reverse might be the rendering of a supernova, which was, according to contemporary Japanese and Chinese astronomers, visible on the firmament in 1054. For some curious reason, both stars were deliberately effaced from our example.