Basil II Bulgaroktonos, with Constantine VIII, 976-1025. Histamenon (Gold, 22 mm, 4.18 g, 6 h), Constantinopolis, circa 977-989. +IҺS XIS RЄX RЄGNANTIЧm 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 and wearing loros on the left, and Constantine VIII, beardless and wearing chlamys on the right, holding between them long patriarchial cross with triangle above pellet on the shaft. DOC 1. SB 1795 var. (decoration of nimbate cross on the obverse). A very rare variety. Pierced and somewhat clipped, otherwise, very fine.