Basil I the Macedonian, with Constantine, 867-886. Solidus (Gold, 20 mm, 2.61 g, 6 h), a contemporary plated imitation. Irregular mint. +IhS XPS RЄX RЄςNANTIЧM✱ Christ, nimbate, seated facing on throne, wearing tunic and pallium, raising his right hand in benediction and holding book of Gospels in his left. Rev. bASILIOS ЄT COҺSΤAhT'AЧςς b' Crowned facing busts of Basil I, with short beard on the left and wearing loros, and Constantine, beardless on the right and wearing chlamys, holding, with their right hands, a long patriarchal cross between them. Cf. DOC 2 and SB 1704 (for prototype). A curious imitation. Minor breaks in plating, otherwise, fine.


This unusual piece was probably struck first in bronze and then dipped into molten gold, which explains the blurred outlines of the plating. One wonders whom such a contemporary forgery was meant to deceive - especially given its weight of only 2.61 g.