Basil II Bulgaroktonos, with Constantine VIII, 976-1025. Histamenon (Gold, 26 mm, 4.42 g, 7 h), Constantinopolis, 977-989. +IҺS XIS RЄX RЄGNANTIҺm Nimbate bust of Christ facing, wearing tunic and pallium, raising his right hand in benediction and holding book of Gospels in his left. Rev. + bASIL C COҺSTAҺTI b R Crowned facing half-length busts of Basil II, with short-beard, wearing loros on the left, and Constantine VIII, beardless, wearing chlamys on the right, holding between them long patriarchial cross with pellet on the shaft. DOC 2a. SB 1796. Struck from the ususal somewhat worn dies, otherwise, extremely fine.