Constantine

Intro ...

(913-959)

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CONSTANTINOPLE

Constantine VII (913-959). AV Solidus. Constantinople mint. Sear 1740.

Obv: + ıҺs xᴘs ʀєx ʀєςnᴀnτıчᴍ ᕯ. Christ enthroned facing, wearing nimbus cruciger, pallium and colobium, and raising right hand in benediction; in left hand, book of Gospels.

Rev: cᴏnsτᴀnτ’ cє ᴢωʜ єn xω ь’ ʀ’. Facing busts of Constantine beardless (left) and Zoe (right), both crowned and holding between them long patriarchal cross; Constantine wears chlamys, Zoe wears loros.

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Constantine VII (913-959). AV Solidus. Constantinople mint. Sear 1740ᴀ.

Obv: + ᴠⲡєᴘᴀгıᴀ ⲑєᴏᴛᴏᴋє ʀ’. Facing bust of the Virgin, nimbate, wearing pallium and maphorium, and holding before her the infant Christ (nimbate head facing).

Rev: cᴏnsτᴀnτ’ cє ᴢωʜ ь’ ʀᴏm’. Facing busts of Constantine beardless (left) and Zoe (right), both crowned and holding between them globus surmounted by tall patriarchal cross; Constantine wears chlamys, Zoe wears loros.

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Constantine VII (913-959). AV Solidus. Constantinople mint. Sear 1741.

Obv: + ıҺs xᴘs ʀєx ʀєςnᴀnτıчᴍ ᕯ. Christ enthroned facing, wearing nimbus cruciger, pallium and colobium, and raising right hand in benediction; in left hand, book of Gospels.

Rev: cᴏnsτᴀnτ’ cє ʀᴏmᴀn’ ᴀчςς’ ь. Facing busts of Constantine VII beardless (left), and Romanos I with short beard (right), each wearing crown and loros, and holding between them long patriarchal cross.

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Constantine VII (913-959). AV Solidus. Constantinople mint. Sear 1742.

Obv: + ıҺs xᴘs ʀєx ʀєςnᴀnτıчᴍ. Christ enthroned facing, wearing nimbus cruciger, pallium and colobium, and raising right hand in benediction; in left hand, book of Gospels; throne has curved arms ornamented with pearls.

Rev: ʀᴏmᴀn’ cᴏnsτ’ єτ xᴘısτᴏꜰ’ ь’ ʀ’. Romanos I, bearded, standing facing between half-length figures of Constantine VII, beardless (left) and Christopher, with short beard (right); Romanos wearing crown and loros, and holding labarum scepter and akakia; Constantine and Christopher each wearing crown and jewelled chlamys.

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Constantine VII (913-959). AV Solidus. Constantinople mint. Sear 1742ᴀ.

Obv: + ıҺsчs xᴘısτчs ᕯ. Bust of Christ facing, wearing nimbus cruciger (the arms of the cross projecting beyond the circle), pallium and colobium, and raising right hand in benediction; in left hand, book of Gospels; border of globules between linear circles.

Rev: ʀᴏmᴀn cє cᴏnsτᴀn …. Facing busts of Romanos I with long beard (left), and Constantine VII beardless (left), each wearing crown, and holding between them globus surmounted by tall cross with four pellets in the angles of the limbs; Romanos wearing loros and Constantine, chlamys; border of globules between linear circles.

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Constantine VII (913-959). AV Solidus. Constantinople mint. Sear 1743.

Obv: + ᴋє ьᴏʜⲑєı ʀᴏmᴀnω ∂єѕᴘᴏτʜ (or ∂єcᴘᴏτʜ). Romanos I, bearded, standing facing, wearing crown and loros, and holding globus cruciger; his left hand extended towards Christ who stands facing, cross behind his head, wearing pallium and colobium, and crowing emperor with right hand; in left hand book of Gospels.

Rev: cᴏnsτᴀnτ’ єτ xᴘısτᴏꜰ’ ь’ ʀ’. Facing busts of Constantine VII (left) and Christopher (right), both crowned and with short beards, holding between them long patriarchal cross; Constantine wears loros, and Christopher chlamys.

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Constantine VII (913-959). AV Solidus. Constantinople mint. Sear 1744.

Obv: + ᴋє ьᴏʜⲑєı ʀᴏmᴀnω ∂єѕᴘᴏτʜ (or ∂єcᴘᴏτʜ). Romanos I, bearded, standing facing, wearing crown and loros, and holding globus cruciger; his left hand extended towards Christ who stands facing, cross behind his head, wearing pallium and colobium, and crowing emperor with right hand; in left hand book of Gospels.

Rev: xᴘısτᴏꜰ’ єτ cᴏnsτ’ ᴀчςς’ ь. Facing busts of Christopher, with short beard (left) and Constantine VII, beardless (right), both crowned, holding between them long patriarchal cross; Christopher wears loros, and Constantine chlamys.

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Constantine VII (913-959). AV Solidus. Constantinople mint. Sear 1745.

Obv: + ıҺs xᴘs ʀєx ʀєςnᴀnτıчᴍ ᕯ. Christ enthroned facing, wearing nimbus cruciger, pallium and colobium, and raising right hand in benediction; in left hand, book of Gospels.

Rev: ʀᴏmᴀn’ єᴛ xᴘısτᴏꜰᴏ’ ᴀчςς ь’. Facing busts of Romanos I, with short beard (left), and Christopher, beardless (right); both crowned, holding between them long patriarchal cross; Romanos wearing loros; Christopher wearing chlamys.

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Constantine VII (913-959). AV Solidus. Constantinople mint. Sear 1746.

Obv: + ıҺs xᴘs ʀєx ʀєςnᴀnτıчᴍ ᕯ. Christ enthroned facing, wearing nimbus cruciger, pallium and colobium, and raising right hand in benediction; in left hand, book of Gospels.

Rev: ʀᴏmᴀn’ єᴛ cᴏnsτᴀnτ’ ᴀчςς’ ь’. Facing busts of Romanos I, with short beard (left), and Constantine, beardless (right); both crowned, holding between them long patriarchal cross; Romanos wearing loros; Constantine wearing chlamys.

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Constantine VII (913-959). AV Solidus. Constantinople mint. Sear 1747.

Obv: + ıҺs xᴘs ʀєx ʀєςɴᴀɴᴛıчm (sometimes followed by cross). Bust of Christ facing, wearing nimbus cruciger, pallium and colobium, and raising right hand in benediction; in left hand, book of Gospels.

Rev: + cᴏnsτᴀnτ’ ᴀᴠτ’ cʀᴀτ’ ь’ ʀ’ (or similar). Facing bust of Constantine, with long beard, wearing crown and vertical loros, and holding patriarchal cross on globus.

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Constantine VII (913-959). AV Solidus. Constantinople mint. Sear 1748.

Obv: + ıҺs xᴘs ʀєx ʀєςɴᴀɴᴛıчm (sometimes followed by cross). Bust of Christ facing, wearing nimbus cruciger, pallium and colobium, and raising right hand in benediction; in left hand, book of Gospels.

Rev: + cᴏnsτᴀnτ’ ᴀᴠτ’ cʀᴀτ’ ь’ ʀ’ (or similar). Facing bust of Constantine, with long beard, wearing crown and vertical loros, and holding patriarchal cross on globus; holding akakia with left hand.

Notes: legends slightly blundered.

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Constantine VII (913-959). AV Solidus. Constantinople mint. Sear 1748ᴀ.

Obv: + ıҺs xᴘs ʀєx ʀєςɴᴀɴᴛıчm (sometimes followed by cross). Bust of Christ facing, wearing nimbus cruciger, pallium and colobium, and raising right hand in benediction; in left hand, book of Gospels.

Rev: + cᴏnsτᴀnτınᴏs ᴀᴠτ’ cʀᴀτ’ ь’ ʀ’ (or similar). Facing bust of Constantine, with long beard, wearing crown and jewelled chlamys, and holding patriarchal cross on globus.

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Constantine VII (913-959). AV Solidus. Constantinople mint. Sear 1749.

Obv: + ıҺs xᴘs ʀєx ʀєςɴᴀɴᴛıчm. Christ enthroned facing (with small well-modelled head), wearing nimbus cruciger, pallium and colobium, and raising right hand in benediction; in left hand, book of Gospels; throne has curved arms ornamented with pearls.

Rev: + cᴏnsτᴀnτınᴏs cє ʀᴏmᴀn єn xω ь ʀ. Constantine VII (right) and shorter figure of his son Romanos II (left), standing facing, both crowned, holding between them long patriarchal cross, and each holding globus cruciger; Constantine wearing loros, Romanos wearing chlamys.

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Constantine VII (913-959). AV Solidus. Constantinople mint. Sear 1750.

Obv: + ıҺs xᴘs ʀєx ʀєςɴᴀɴᴛıчm. Christ enthroned facing (with small well-modelled head), wearing nimbus cruciger, pallium and colobium, and raising right hand in benediction; in left hand, book of Gospels; throne has curved arms ornamented with pearls.

Rev: cᴏnsτᴀnτ’ cє ʀᴏmᴀn’ ᴀчςς ь ʀ (or very similar). Facing busts of Constantine VII with short beard (left), and Romanos II beardless (right), both crowned and holding between them long patriarchal; Constantine wearing loros, Romanos wearing chlamys.

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Constantine VII (913-959). AV Solidus. Constantinople mint. Sear 1751.

Obv: + ıҺs xᴘs ʀєx ʀєςɴᴀɴᴛıчm (sometimes followed by cross). Bust of Christ facing, wearing nimbus cruciger, pallium and colobium, and raising right hand in benediction; in left hand, book of Gospels.

Rev: cᴏnsτᴀnτ’ cє ʀᴏmᴀn’ ᴀчςς ь ʀ (or very similar). Facing busts of Constantine VII with short beard (left), and Romanos II beardless (right), both crowned and holding between them long patriarchal; Constantine wearing loros, Romanos wearing chlamys.

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Constantine VII (913-959). AR Miliaresion. Constantinople mint. Sear 1752.

Obv: ıҺsчs xʀısτчs nıcᴀ. Cross potent on three steps, globus beneath; triple border.

Rev: + cᴏns / τᴀnτ’ єn / xω ᴀчτᴏcʀ’ / ᴘısτ’ ьᴀꜱ / ıⳑ’ ʀᴏm’ in five lines; triple border ornamented with 8 equally spaced globules.

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Romanus I (920-944). AR Miliaresion. Constantinople mint. Sear 1753.

Obv: ıҺsчs xʀısτчs nıcᴀ. Cross potent on three steps, globus beneath; triple border.

Rev: + ʀᴏmᴀnᴏ’ / cᴏnsτᴀnτ’ / cє xᴘısτᴏꜰ’ / єn xω єᴠꜱє / ь’ ьᴀꜱıⳑ’ ʀ’ in five lines; triple border ornamented with 8 equally spaced globules.

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Romanus I (920-944). AR Miliaresion. Constantinople mint. Sear 1754.

Obv: ıҺsчs xʀısτчs nıcᴀ. Cross potent on three steps, globus beneath; triple border.

Rev: + ʀᴏmᴀnᴏ’ / xᴘısᴛᴏꜰᴏʀ’ / cє cᴏnsᴛᴀn’ / єn xω єᴠꜱє / ь’ ьᴀꜱıⳑ’ ʀ’ in five lines; triple border ornamented with 8 equally spaced globules.

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Romanus I (920-944). AR Miliaresion. Constantinople mint. Sear 1755.

Obv: ıҺsчs xʀısτчs nıcᴀ. Cross potent on three steps, ·፧· beneath; at center of cross, oval medallion with facing bust of Romanos I, bearded, and wearing crown and loros; in field to left, ʀ / ω; to right, m / ᴀ; triple border ornamented with four equally spaced globules.

Rev: + ʀᴏmᴀnᴏ’ / cᴏnsᴛᴀnτ’ / ꜱτєꜰᴀnᴏs / cє cᴏnsᴛᴀ’ / єn xω ь’ ʀ’ in five lines, — ·፧· — above and beneath; triple border ornamented with 8 equally spaced globules.

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Romanus I (920-944). AR Miliaresion. Constantinople mint. Sear 1756.

Obv: ʀᴏmᴀnᴏ єn ⲑω ь’ ʀ’. Facing bust of Romanos I, with long beard, wearing crown and loros, and holding patriarchal cross on globus; triple border (circle of pellets between two circles of dots).

Rev: ıҺsчs xʀısτчs nıcᴀ. Cross potent on steps, globus beneath; at center of cross, x; in field to left and right, star; triple border (circle of pellets between two circles of dots).

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Constantine VII (913-959). AR Miliaresion. Constantinople mint. Sear 1757.

Obv: ıҺsчs xʀısτчs nıcᴀ. Cross crosslet on three steps, small globus beneath; at center of cross, x; triple border ornamented with 16 equally spaced globules.

Rev: + cᴏnsᴛ’ τ’ / ⲡᴏʀꜰᴠʀᴏҁ’ / cє ʀᴏmᴀnᴏ / єn xω єᴠꜱєь’ / ь’ ʀωmєᴏn in five lines; triple border ornamented with 16 equally spaced globules.

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Constantine VII (913-959). Æ Follis. Constantinople mint. Sear 1758.

Obv: + cᴏnsτᴀnτ’ cє ᴢᴏʜ ь’ (or very similar). Facing busts of Constantine beardless (left) and Zoe (right), both crowned and holding between them long patriarchal cross; Constantine wears loros, Zoe wears chlamys.

Rev: + cᴏns / τᴀnτınᴏ’ / cє ᴢᴏʜ ьᴀ / ꜱıⳑıꜱ ʀᴏ / mєᴏn in five lines.

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Constantine VII (913-959). Æ Follis. Constantinople mint. Sear 1759.

Obv: + cᴏnsτᴀnτ’ ьᴀꜱıⳑ’ ʀᴏm’. Facing bust of Constantine, beardless, wearing crown and loros, and holding labarum and globus cruciger.

Rev: + cᴏns / τᴀnτın’ / єn ⲑᴏ ьᴀꜱ / ıⳑ’ ʀᴏm’ in four lines. [LINE ABOVE ⲑᴏ]

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Romanus I (920-944). Æ Follis. Constantinople mint. Sear 1760.

Obv: + ʀωmᴀn’ ьᴀꜱıⳑєᴠꜱ ʀωm’ (or very similar). Facing bust of Romanos I, bearded, wearing crown and jewelled chlamys, and holding labarum transversely, and globus cruciger.

Rev: + ʀωmᴀ / n’ єn ⲑєω ьᴀ / ꜱıⳑєᴠꜱ ʀω / mᴀıωn in four lines.

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Constantine VII (913-959). Æ Follis. Constantinople mint. Sear 1761.

Obv: + cᴏnsᴛ’ ьᴀꜱıⳑ’ ʀᴏm’. Facing bust of Constantine, with short beard, wearing crown and vertical loros, and holding akakia and globus cruciger.

Rev: + cᴏnsᴛ’ / єn ⲑєᴏ ьᴀ / ꜱıⳑєᴠꜱ ʀ / ᴏmєᴏn in four lines.

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Constantine VII (913-959). Æ Follis. Constantinople mint. Sear 1762.

Obv: + cᴏnsᴛ’ (or cᴏnsᴛ’τ’) cє ʀᴏmᴀn’ ь’ ʀᴏm’. Facing busts of Constantine VII with short beard (left), and his son Romanos II beardless (right), each wearing crown and loros (Constantine’s is vertical); they hold between them globus surmounted by patriarchal cross with x at center.

Rev: + cᴏnsτ’ / cє ʀᴏmᴀn / єn xʀısτ’ / ь’ ʀᴏmєᴏ in four lines.

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CHERSON

Constantine VII (913-959). Æ Flat. Cherson mint. Sear 1763.

Obv: Facing bust of Constantine VII, wearing crown and robes.

Rev: Facing bust of Zoe, wearing crown and robes.

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Constantine VII (913-959). Æ Flat. Cherson mint. Sear 1764.

Obv: Large ᴘω.

Rev: Cross floriate on two steps; in field to left and right, pellets.

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Constantine VII (913-959). Æ Flat. Cherson mint. Sear 1765.

Obv: Large ᴘ / ω.

Rev: Large Δ.

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Romanus I (920-944). Æ Flat. Cherson mint. Sear 1766.

Obv: Facing bust of Romanus I, wearing crown and loros.

Rev: ω / ᴘ / m.

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Romanus I (920-944). Æ Flat. Cherson mint. Sear 1767.

Obv: Monogram.

Rev: Monogram.

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Romanus I (920-944). Æ Flat. Cherson mint. Sear 1768.

Obv: Monogram.

Rev: Cross floriate on two steps; in field to left and right, pellets.

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Romanus I (920-944). Æ Flat. Cherson mint. Sear 1769.

Obv: Facing bust of Romanus I, wearing crown and loros; to left, ᴘ; to right, o.

Rev: Facing bust of Christopher, wearing crown and chlamys; to left, x; to right, ᴘ.

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Constantine VII (913-959). Æ Flat. Cherson mint. Sear 1770.

Obv: Large ᴋ / ω.

Rev: Cross floriate on two steps; in field to left and right, pellets.

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Constantine VII (913-959). Æ Flat. Cherson mint. Sear 1771.

Obv: Facing bust of Constantine VII, wearing crown and chlamys.

Rev: Large ᴋ / ω.

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Constantine VII (913-959). Æ Flat. Cherson mint. Sear 1772.

Obv: Monogram.

Rev: Monogram.

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The coinage of Constantine VII's long reign, which is varied and for the most part common, can be understood only in the light of the dynastic complications created by the rise of Romanus Lecapenus. Constantine was only an infant when his uncle Alexander died, so that a regency was inevitable. He had not quite attained his legal majority when power was seized by Romanus Lecapenus, the admiral of the fleet, who married him to his daughter Helena and had himself crowned co-Augustus. Constantine's poor health, retiring disposition, and scholarly and artistic preoccupations made it an easy matter for Romanus to push him aside and promote his own family. His eldest son Christopher was added as co-Augustus in 921 and two further sons, Stephen and Constantine, were crowned in 924, Christopher died in 931, to his father’s intense grief. We are told that he shed floods of tears “like the Egyptians” after the death of their firstborn, and during the thirties he devoted himself more and more to religion, evidently caring little for the future of his younger sons. The natural result was that Stephen and Constantine conspired against their father and deposed him (December 94), only to be themselves overthrown, a month later, by a dynastic reaction in favor of Constantine VII. Finally, after a brief period of sole rule, Constantine raised his own son Romanus I to imperial rank, and the two were nominal colleagues down to 959.

This pattern of dynastic change was further complicated by the maneuverings for precedence between the members of the Lecapenus family and the unhappy Constantine VII. These are known to us both from the chroniclers and from the formulae of legal documents; they are also in part reflected in the coinage, though not to the extent that some scholars have assumed. The numismatic evidence is in fact difficult to interpret, for the solidi, miliaresia, and foles were not regarded as coins of equal importance and were used for purposes of dynastic propaganda in different ways. In addition to the regular denominations, account must be taken of a number of patterns, in silver or copper, of coins that were never formally struck. The sequence and occasions of issue are difficult to make out, and despite the analysis of the coinage by Wroth and subsequent studies by Goodacre and Bellinger. There are a number of points which still require discussion.

The chief events of the reign, in so far as they are likely to have affected the coinage, may be summarized as follows:

913, 6 June Death of Alexander, who had appointed a board of seven regents, presided over by the Patriarch Nicholas Mysticus. The Empress Zoe is expelled from the palace and compelled to take the veil.

914, February Zoe recovers the regency “after eight months” and continues to exercise it,under ever-increasing difficulties, to 919. The rivals for power were by then Leo Phocas, commander of the army, and Romanus Lecapenus, admiral of the fleet.

919, 25 March Romanus enters Constantinople and is appointed Commander of the Palace Guard.

919, 4 May Romanus consolidates his position by marrying his daughter Helena to Constantine, now nearly fourteen years of age, receiving thereby the title Basileopator.

920, August Zoe finally relegated to a monastery on the charge of having conspired to poison Romanus.

920, 24 September Romanus is created Caesar.

920, 17 December Romanus crowned Augustus.

921, 6 January Romanus crowns his wife Theodora as Augusta.

921, March (?) On the pretext of Constantine’s poor health and in the hope of stifling conspiracies in the boy's favor, Romanus formally gives himself precedence over his nominal colleague.

921, 20 May Romanus’ son Christopher, who was fully adult—he had succeeded his father as Commander of the Palace Guard in 919 and had a daughter of marriageable age in 927—crowned Augustus by Constantine VII.

921/924 Two chrysobulls known to us from an eleventh-century reference, and presumably antedating the coronation of Stephen and Constantine Lecapenus, since they do not mention them, give the order of precedence as Romanus-Christopher-Constantine.

922, April A novel of this date gives the order of precedence as Romanus-Constantine-Christopher.

924, 25 December Stephen and Constantine crowned co-Augusti by their father Romanus.

927 Christopher's daughter Maria marries the Bulgarian Tsar Peter, who took umbrage at the fact that his father-in-law should be “third and most junior” in the imperial triumvirate and demanded that Christopher be promoted above Constantine.”

931, August Death of Christopher.

943 Romanus in his will formally lays down that ConstantineVII is to retain precedence over his own two sons.

944, 20 December Romanus deposed by his sons, exiled to Prote, and tonsured.

945, 27 January Stephen and Constantine Lecapenus overthrown by Constantine VII, tonsured, and sent to join their father in exile.

945, 6 April Romanus II, Constantine’s son by Helena and a boy of six, crowned co-Augustus by his father on Easter Day.

959, 9 (?) November Death of Constantine VII

It is into this complicated pattern of events that the coinage of Constantine's reign has to be fitted. Before setting out the arrangement followed in the catalogue, some comment on various general topics is required.

Patterns and degrees of rarity. The gold and silver coins vary enormously in rarity from one issue to another. These variations are helpful in dating the coins, but they have to be treated with some circumspection. A coin which is today common and in which die- linkages are rare must have been struck over a fairly long period of time. On the other hand, it is quite possible to have several rare types struck in a very short period of time, particularly where pattern coins are involved, the mint trying several experiments before a type received official approval. This happened in 921, in 931, and again in 945, when the coronations of Romanus II and Christopher, the death of Christopher, and the downfall of the Lecapeni, followed by the coronation of Romanus II, resulted in a very rapid succession of short-lived types.

Whether the unusual profusion of patterns and ceremonial issues was in part due to a personal interest in the coinage on the part of Constantine VII is a question we cannot answer. The emperor's love of art and his interest in the technical processes involved is vouched forinafamous passage by acontemporary writer. But Constantine's portrait coins of 945 were preceded by Romanus I's equally remarkable gold and silver patterns of 931, and indeed by several unusual and striking coin designs of the reigns of Leo VI and Alexander. While not denying the possibility ofConstantine's intervention, it seems best to attribute the high quality of several of the issues of his reign to the general cultural revival of the period, in which the artists and engravers at the mint no doubt played a part.

Protocol. The relative seniority of imperial colleagues could be shown in various ways: by the order of names in the inscriptions, by the arrangement of the imperial effigies, and by the presence or absence of a beard. On the coinage of Constantine VI's reign these indications are sometimes very irregularly used. On the solidi of Class VIII the order given by the inscription (Romanus, Constantine, Christopher) contradicts that of the type (Romanus, Christopher, Constantine), presumably so that Christopher's name should come above his standing figure. Logically this should also have involved an inversion of the names of Romanus and Constantine, but Romanus preferred to have his name first and this was not done. On solidi of Class VI Constantine and Christopher are both shown bearded, presumably from a wish to conciliate the formal precedence of Constantine with Christopher's greater age and Romanus’ desire to favor his own son. The main series of solidi struck in the 930's, after Christopher's death, gives formal precedence to Constantine, though legal texts show that at this period Romanus still retained the senior position for himself. It seems clear that while account has to be taken of the arrangement of the emperors on the coins, too much importance cannot be attached to it.

Three other elements in the coin designs have sometimes been assumed to involve questions of protocol, but were in fact independent of it. One is the relative sizes of the figures. This in reality depended on the relative ages of the persons involved. Zoe and Romanus I, on the solidi of Classes II and X respectively, are shown larger than Constantine simply because they are much older than he is, even though for technical reasons, it is the younger person who occupies the senior position. The costumes of the various colleagues are also independent of protocol, for while the senior emperor generally wears a loros and the junior a chlamys, this rule is not invariable. On coins of Class II it is Constantine VII who occupies the place of honor and wears a chlamys; the costumes worn by Constantine and Zoe on their folles reverse those of their solidi; on folles of Constantine and Romanus II both figures wear a loros. Finally, no particular significance can be attached to the way in which two colleagues hold a patriarchal cross, as they do on all the common solidus types of the reign. Sometimes they do so with their left hands, sometimes with their right, and while the senior emperor usually has his hand above that of his colleague, there are cases where his hand is below it, as on Classes II and X. Wroth drew attention to the first of these anomalies, but Bellinger is I think correct in regarding it as without significance. In other reigns it was certainly a matter of indifference whether the senior emperor's hand was placed above or below that of his colleague.

Inscriptions and lettering. The content of the inscriptions requires little comment. Autocrator is used on Class I of the miliaresion and Classes XII and XIII of the solidus, but it was a part of the official title of a senior emperor and had already been used on the silver of Alexander. Porphyrogenitus is used by Constantine VII on Class VI of the miliaresion, evidently to emphasize the legitimate nature of his rule after the usurpation of the Lecapenus family. AЧGG had come back into favor under Basil I and Leo VI, but is used with greater regularity under Constantine VII.

Epigraphical changes are of greater significance. On coins of all denominations there is a tendency for the letters to decrease in size, and in the gold, where they were small to start with, the decline goes so far as seriously to affect the legibility of the later issues. On coins of Constantine and Zoe, which date from between 914 and 919, and on some of those of Constantine and Romanus I, which can be dated to 921, the letters are large and reasonably well cut, and though the technique is sometimes curious, it only continues that of previous reigns. On coins of Romanus I and Christopher, which belong to the decade 921-31, there is a transition from large to small lettering. On coins of Constantine VII and Romanus II, which belong to the last fourteen years of the reign, this contraction in size becomes very marked, the letters on the latest coins having been made with two or three small punches, so that they often do not have any recognizable form at all. The evolution is important for the dating of Class X of the solidi with the standing figures of Constantine and Romanus I. It shows that this must date from 931-44, and not 920-1, despite the contradiction which this creates between the coins and the written records over the relative position of the two colleagues.

Portraiture. Most of the coins of Constantine VII's reign have purely conventional portraits. The faces are sometimes triangular, sometimes long and pointed, but in either case they lack any individual features. The beards used to distinguish senior emperors from their junior colleagues are shown by thickened lines round the edges of the face, while the accompanying mustaches are short horizontal lines above the mouth. Leo VI’s characterized portraiture, however, was imitated from time to time, most conspicuously on the solidi of Constantine VII struck in 945 but also on the folles of Romanus I and on this ruler’s pattern solidi and miliaresia of 931.

The splendid portrait of Constantine VII, with its long, thin features and thoughtful, almost sad, expression, is the outstanding achievement of tenth-century coinage. That it is a true likeness of the emperor is apparent from its resemblance to the portrait of Constantine on a famous ivory in Moscow and on a not less remarkable ivory in the Dumbarton Oaks Collection. Blanchet suggested that the bearded head might have been suggested by the face of Christ on the Mandylion, the portrait “not made with hands” which was acquired by the emperor in 944 and which from early times had been the chief treasure of the Church of Edessa, but while this is unlikely—the faces are very different—it seems clear that Constantine's portrait served as the model for that of King Abgar of Edessa, to whom it was believed that the Mandylion had originally been. sent, on an icon from Mount Sinai.

The portraits of Romanus I are two in number. The earlier is that on his folles, which were struck from 921 onward. The face is broad, with a short nose, a short rounded beard, ​​rather prominent eyes, a mustache with drooping ends, and a grave and rather stern expression. It is quite different from the stereotyped representation of the emperor on the gold of the same period, though it resembles that of the standing representation of Romanus on the coins of Class VIII. The other portrait is much more impressive: the beard is long, curling, and divided at the ends, the eyes wide apart, the features more deeply marked, the face older, the general effect one of mingled sternness and benignity. The largest representation in the coinage is on pattern miliaresia of Class IV, which are best assigned to 931, when Romanus was probably in his sixties, but there is a rather smaller one on the pattern solidus of Class IX of the same year, when he appears side by side with Constantine VII, and a tiny one on the medallion at the intersection of the arms of the cross on the miliaresia of Class V, struck between 931 and 944. The same portrait is also used on a seal in the Whittemore Collection at the Fogg Art Museum in Cambridge, Massachusetts. The emperor is there flanked by the much smaller and purely conventional effigies of Constantine VII and Stephen, the omission of Christopher confirming the date 931 to which the pattern miliaresion and solidus are best assigned.

Simultaneous issues or sequences? One generally assumes, in dealing with Byzantine coins, that issues would have followed each other in succession, and that the same mint would not have struck coins of different types, or with the names and effigies of the same emperors differently arranged, at the same time. This is a good working rule, but some features of Constantine VII's coinage suggest that where pairs of types are closely related to each other they may have been issued not consecutively but simultaneously, either to gratify the amour-propre of one or another of the various co-emperors or for some other reason we cannot now hope to discover. Class III of the solidus would thus pair with Class IV, both of them being coins of Constantine VII and Romanus I, despite the change in the position and costume of the junior emperor, and Class V with Class VI, both of these being coins of Constantine VII, Romanus I, and Christopher. Such duplicating coinages are of occasional occurrence in numismatics—one may cite the coexistence of English and Scottish varieties of shilling in mid-twentieth-century Britain—and if similar arrangements could be postulated for tenth-century Byzantium one could better under- stand how several related classes of solidus seem to have been struck during quite short periods of time.

In only one of its many aspects does the coinage of Constantine VII's reign present no serious problems. There appear to have been no more than two mints, Constantinople and Cherson, and there is no difficulty in distinguishing between their products. There are also no fractional gold, silver, or copper coins; one has, in each metal, only a single denomination to deal with.

CONSTANTINOPLE

GOLD COINAGE. There are no solidi attributable to the period of the regency council headed by Nicholas Mysticus, but apart from this there are some dating from every period of the reign. The activity of the mint, however, was very irregular, solidi of Constantine’s minority (914-21) being extremely rare, while those of Romanus I and Christopher (921-31) are amongst the commonest in the whole Byzantine series. The coinage can be divided into twelve classes, but patterns in other metals are known for at least three more and others may yet come to light. Since these patterns are of considerable iconographical interest they have been included in the list that follows. The figures in parentheses, following the class number, are those of the text of the catalogue.

Class I (No.1). 914. Pattern only. Oby. Bust of the Virgin. Rev. Busts of Constantine and Zoe.

This remarkable coin, described in more detail on p. 541, was published by Veglery and Zacos. It represents the first use on Byzantine coinage of an effigy of the Virgin holding a medallion of Christ, differing in this respect from the bust of the Virgin on solidi of Leo VI, and the inscription reads from the obverse to the reverse of the coin. But the design was evidently not approved, and the solidi of Zoe’s regency were those of Clas II.

Class II (No. 2). 914-919. Obv. Seated figure of Christ, as on coins of Basil II. Rev. Busts of Constantine and Zoe.

The obverse type reverts to the design introduced by Basil II, representing the icon above the emperor's throne in the Chrysotriclinos. The coin is extremely rare, and one cannot exclude the possibility of its having been struck for only a brief period in 914, the issue of gold being then suspended until the 920's.

Class III (No. 3). 920-921. Obv. Seated Christ, as previous type. Rev. Busts of Constantine VII (beardless) and Romanus I (bearded), in that order. The large lettering and the fact that Constantine is beardless and Romanus bearded show that this issue, which is very rare, represents Constantine VII and Romanus I. The two figures are the same size, this representing a concession on the part of Romanus, who had yet to consolidate his position in relation to his youthful coleague. The coin must have been struck during the winter of 920/1, before Romanus formally displaced Constantine as senior Augustus.

Class IV (No. 4). 921. Type as last, but the positions of Constantine and Romanus are reversed, and Constantine, who is shown as smaller than his colleague, wears a chlamys instead of a loros. The large lettering shows the approximate date of this issue, which must have been struck before the association of Christopher on the throne, i.e. before May 921. Like Class III, it is very rare, having been issued for two or three months at most.

Class V (No. 5). 921. Obv. Romanus I crowned by Christ. Rev. Busts of Christopher (bearded) and Constantine (smaller and beardless), in that order. The large lettering places this class very early in the reign of Christopher. This excludes the possibility of its having been issued after a change in Christopher's status had been effected in 927. Since it shows Constantine as beardless in relation to Christopher, it must be earlier than Class VI. It is also of extreme rarity. The most probable explanation of it is that Christopher on his coronation was given precedence over Constantine, but that this aroused so much disapproval that their relative positions had to be reversed.

Class VI (No.6). 921. Obv. As last. Rev. Busts of Constantine and Christopher, in that order, both bearded and equal in size to each other. The fact that both figures are shown bearded is sufficient in itself to show this issue to be abnormal in character. It must be interpreted as a compromise arrived at in a very difficult situation. Specimens are very rare, only a little less rare than are those of Class V, and the period of issue must have been very brief.

Class VII (No. 7). 921-931. Obv. Seated Christ, as on Classes II-IV. Rev. Busts of Romanus I (bearded) and Christopher (smaller and beardless) in that order. The dispute over precedence between Constantine and Christopher was solved by the introduction of this class, which excluded Constantine from the gold coinage altogether and left only Romanus and Christopher, regarding whose mutual relationship no doubt could arise. This explains why Christopher is shown as beardless. The coins are exceedingly common and vary a good deal in appearance; on the earliest ones the lettering and the heads of the emperors are large, on the latest ones they are small.

Class VIII (No. 8). c.930. Obv. Seated Christ, of the type used on solidi of Leo VI with Constantine VII. Rev. Inscription giving the order of precedence Romanus I, Constantine VII, and Christopher, but type showing Romanus standing and the half-length figures of his colleagues, with the order of precedence Romanus (in the center, large, bearded), Christopher (to the right, bearded), and Constantine (to the left, beardless, and smaller than Christopher).

This issue is very rare, and its unusual type shows that it must have been issued on some special occasion. This is also indicated by its revival of an obverse type used on an equally decorative coin of Leo VI. The small lettering puts it late in Christopher's reign, but the occasion of its issue is unknown and the order of precedence, as between Christopher and Constantine, is deliberately left ambiguous. It is probably too late to be connected with the marriage of Christopher's daughter to the Bulgarian tsar in 927.

Class IX (No. 9). 931. Pattern only. Obv. Bust of Christ. Rev. Busts of Romanus I and Constantine VII in that order, Romanus having a long forked beard and Constantine being smaller and beardless. The lettering shows that this coin belongs to the 930's, and it is natural to associate it with the redesigning of the coinage after the death of Christopher. There is a similar bust of Romanus on the pattern miliaresion assignable to the same occasion, the two denominations being also linked by their conspicuous border of globules.

Class X (No. 10). 931-944. Obv. Seated Christ, as on Class VIII but with hand turned inward. Rev. Standing figures of Constantine VII (beardless) and Romanus I (bearded), in that order, though Constantine is the smaller of the two. This class had been a source of great difficulty, for the order of precedence would point to an early date and both Wroth and Bellinger assign it to the period before Christopher's coronation, i.e. to 920-1. The numismatic evidence, on the other hand, makes any date earlier than the 930's out of the question; the lettering is small, the coinage—the issue is fairly common—fills an otherwise inexplicable gap in minting between 931 and 94, and the seated Christ gives every appearance of being later than the still clumsy effigy employed on the coins of Class VIII. The objections to assigning the coin to the 930's are historical; our written records show that in this period Romanus, as was natural, took precedence over Constantine. But they equally admit that Romanus, more and more immersed in religion and with his spirit broken by Christopher's death, was dejected over the wrong he felt he had done Constantine and was anxious to make amends. It is also clear that the coinage could tolerate ambiguities, as on the solidi of Class VI. I would therefore give preference to the numismatic evidence, as against that of the written sources, in dating the coins, and assign this issue to 931-44.

Class XI (No. 11). 945. Pattern only. Obv. Bust of Christ Pantocrator. Rev. Portrait bust of Constantine VII, with long beard, wearing chlamys and holding a globus surmounted by a patriarchal cross. There is general agreement that the solidi showing a likeness of Constantine, with long beard, belong to the few months of his sole reign in 945, though, since one variety is moderately common, it may have carried on a little longer; there is no need to suppose that the coinage of Constantine VII and Romanus I started immediately upon the later's coronation. Class XI is known only as a pattern, represented by a single specimen at Leningrad. Constantine’s costume is modeled very closely on the comparable coin of Leo VI, but his crown, unlike that of Leo, is furnished with pendilia.

Class XII (No. 12). 945. Similar, but Constantine wears a modified loros of square pattern and holds an akakia in his left hand. The only specimen of this which is known to me is that catalogued below, No. 12. It evidently represents one of several designs produced for Constantine's portrait coinage.

Class XIII (No. 13). 945. As Class XII, but Constantine's left hand is not shown, so that there is no akakia. The cross on the nimbus of Christ is decorated with pellets, while on Class XII it had been plain. The type represents the main issue of Constantine's sole reign.

Class XIV (No. 14). 945. Obv. Seated Christ, as on Class X. Rev. Busts of Constantine VII (bearded) and Romanus II (smaller and beardless) in that order. This class has been the cause of quite unnecessary confusion. Wroth (No.8), Goodacre (No. 5), and Bellinger (No. 7) all assign it to Constantine VII and Romanus I, despite the fact that Constantine is bearded and Romanus beardless and that the type of seated Christ used on this coin belongs to the later years of the reign. The small lettering is in any case decisive for the period of issue. The type is very rare, and must represent a short-lived trial issue almost immediately replaced by that with a bust of Christ.

Class XV (No. 15). 945-959. Obv. Bust of Christ Pantocrator. Rev. As last. These extremely common coins represent the last issue of the reign, covering the years 945-59. The design is extremely uniform. The cross in Christ’s nimbus has usually three pellets in each arm, but sometimes there are only two; the arms of the cross may also be marked by double lines instead of single ones. These details do not seem to be linked with changes in the sizes of the busts of the emperors or to have any chronological significance.

SILVER COINAGE

Class I (No.16). 914-921. Obv. Inscription with name of Constantine only. Rev. Usual inscription and type (cross potent on base, steps, and globe). These coins are very rare, and like the gold of Constantine VII and Zoe can represent only a meager issue, Wroth did not know of their existence. Bellinger (No. 21) would date them 945, partly because they give Constantine the title autocrator, as does the gold of that year, partly on the ground that Constantine would have wished to celebrate his release from dependency on the Lecapeni in 945 by producing coins in all metals. Against this are (a) their large lettering, (b) their reverse type, which has the cross of traditional pattern used up to 931 and not thereafter, and (c) the absence of globules from the circles of dots on the reverse, this feature also being one introduced on the coins in 931 and remaining a feature of the miliaresion down to the death of John Zimisces in 976. The title autocrator on early coins is easily explained, for it simply continued that used on the miliaresia of Alexander. I would therefore assign the coins to the period 914-21, without attempting to say at what moment in these seven years they were struck. It is unlikely that they belong to 913/14, since for the period before Zoe's regency no other coins are known. They may have been limited to 920/1, after the empress’ downfall, but since no miliaresia in the joint names of Constantine and Zoe are known, itisbest to leave the matter open. They may have been struck during the regency even though they do not bear Zoe's name.

Class II (No. 17). 921-931. Obv. Inscription with names of Romanus, Constantine, and Christopher, in that order. Rev. Usual inscription and type.

Class III (No. 18). 921-931. As Class II, but the order of emperors is Romanus, Christopher, and Constantine. As long as Christopher was alive the names of Stephen and Constantine Lecapenus were not placed on the miliaresia, so the coins of Classes II and III must be spread over the whole decade 921-31. Whether they represent successive or simultaneous issues is impossible to say.

Class IV (No.19). 931. Patterns only. Obv. Inscription and portrait bust of Romanus I.Rev. Usual inscription, but the cross has been modified by the insertion of an X at the intersection of the arms and there are two symbols (x) in the field. Two strikes in copper of this coin exist, one in the British Museum and the other at Leningrad. Wroth described it as a bronze coin, but the type justifies our treating it as a pattern miliaresion. The use of portraiture (as on the pattern solidus of Class IX, to which it is also linked by the border of pellets), the small lettering, and the modified reverse type prevent us placing the coin early in Romanus’ reign (921), and a change in the miliaresion was made necessary in 931 by Christopher's death. But so drastic a redesigning of the obverse was found to be unacceptable, and the main issue actually inaugurated in 931 was Class V.

Class V (No. 20). 931-944. Obv. Inscription with the names of Romanus, Constantine (VII), Stephen, and Constantine (Lecapenus), in that order. Rev. Usual inscription, but the type is modified (a) by the insertion of a medallion with a portrait bust of Romanus I at the intersection of the cross-arms, (b) by the insertion of the letters RωMA in the field, © by the substitution of a cross of five pellets for the traditional globule below the steps of the cross, and (d) by the insertion of four globules in the borders of dots and of ornaments above and beneath the obverse inscription. These coins are very common, and their date requires no discussion. They represent a compromise between the traditional pattern of the miliaresion, as it had existed for over two centuries, and the revolutionary design of Class IV. The placing of the emperor's bust in a medallion on the cross was suggested by the similar design, with a bust of Christ, on the miliaresion of Alexander.

Class VI (No. 21). 945-959. Obv. Inscription with the names of Constantine and Romanus, in that order. Rev. Usual inscription, but the traditional cross potent has been transformed into a cross crosslet, with an X at the intersection, and there are sixteen globules on the outer border.

There are no miliaresia attributable to the joint reign of Constantine VII, Stephen, and Constantine Lecapenus, or to the almost equally brief one of Constantine VII alone. The coins of Constantine VII and Romanus II are extremely common, and were probably issued over the whole period 945-59. The small lettering and the redesigned cross on the reverse make it clear that they belong to the period of Romanus II, not that of Romanus I. They are the only coins of the reign on which Constantine VII is given the title of porphyrogenitus, here used on Byzantine coinage for the first time.

COPPER COINAGE The folles form a pattern quite different from that of the miliaresia.

Class 1 (No. 2). 914-919. Obv. Busts of Constantine and Zoe. Rev. Inscription with the names of Constantine and Zoe. These coins are common and were evidently struck throughout the period of Zoe's regency. Constantine has the place of honor, but since he was only a child he is shown much smaller than his mother.

Class 2 (No. 23). 920-931. Oby. Bust of Constantine VII (beardless). Rev. Inscription with the name of Constantine. That this issue belongs to the early part of the reign is shown by the youthful and beardless bust of Constantine and the fact that coins of Class 3 are sometimes overstruck on it. Wroth attributes it to 919-21 (?), Bellinger (No. 5) to 919, but it is too common to have been limited to such short periods of time. It was more probably struck over the whole period 920-31, thus giving Constantine some role in the coinage during the ascendancy of Romanus and Christopher, and only displaced by Class 3 when Romanus introduced his own bust on the silver and restored to Constantine a place on the gold.

Class 3 (No. 24). 921. Obv. Bust of Christopher. Rev. Inscription with the name of Christopher. This is known in only a single specimen, and must be construed as a ceremonial issue on the occasion of Christopher's coronation. The type is copied from one of those struck by Leo VI. Some scholars, judging it from the illustration published by Bellinger, have expressed the view that it is a coin of this emperor with the inscriptions skilfully recut, but the profusion of unusual issues which characterize Constantine VII's reign inclines one to accept it as authentic.

Class 4 (No. 25). 931-944. Obv. Bust of Romanus I. Rev. Inscription with the name of Romanus I. This is common, and must have been struck over a substantial period of time. It is commonly dated 921-44, but more probably succeeded Class 2 in 931, when a general redesigning of the coinage was carried out. The bust is a compromise between the fully characterized portrait tried out at that time on the gold and silver and the customary conventional portrait of a bearded senior emperor.

Class 5 (No. 26). 945-c. 950. Obv. Bust of Constantine VII (bearded). Rev. Inscription with name of Constantine only. These folles differ from the earlier ones of Constantine alone in having an older, bearded face, as well as in other small details of costume and insignia. They are normally assigned to the few months in 945 when Constantine was sole emperor, but are too common for such a short period. There is no need to assume that the next class was introduced immediately upon Romanus Il’s coronation, for the tradition of the two preceding decades had been that of having only a single bust on the follis. It seems likely that Class 5 continued to c.950—one cannot give an exact date—when it was replaced by Class 6.

Class 6 (No. 27). c.950-959. Obv. Busts of Constantine VII (bearded) and Romanus II (beardless). Rev. Inscription with names of Constantine VII and Romanus II. The fact that Constantine is the larger, bearded figure and has the place of honor makes it clear that these coins belong to Constantine VII and his son, not to Constantine VI and Romanus I. They are common, and must have been struck for several years before 959, but the date of their introduction cannot be determined.

CHERSON

The coins of Constantine VII’s reign from Cherson are for the most part common, but not very easy to date or classify. There appear to be two denominations, a normal one of 15-18mm diameter and a larger one, issued only under Romanus I, of about 25mm. The traditional classification, elaborated by Oreshnikov on the basis of Sabatier, is not very satisfactory, and since the coins are usually found loose and not in hoards there is little tangible evidence for attribution and dating. Coins with a bust and coins with either one or two letters in the field seem to be early, the letters, where there are several, being placed either one above the other or loosely linked together as a monogram. Later in the reign there is a preference for cruciform monograms of a type that was to continue under Romanus II, Nicephorus II, John I, and Basil II. This is helpful in distinguishing coins of Romanus II from those of Romanus I.

The classification used here, with Sabatier, Oreshnikov, and Wroth references, is as follows:

Class 1 (Constantine VII and Zoe). 914-919. Obv. Bust. Rev. Bust. S. XLVII. 3; Or. 43; W. p. 467, note 1.

Sabatier attributed this to Constantine VII and Romanus II, Oreshnikov to Romanus I and Christopher. Miss Sokolova quite rightly points out that one of the figures wears the characteristic crown of an empress, who can only be Zoe.

Class 2 (Constantine VII alone). 919-920. Obv. Bust. Rev. Kω (verticaly). S. XLVI. 16; Or. 44-6; W. 59.

Wroth places this in 945—Sabatier and Oreshnikov prefer 944-59—but the use of a bust puts it in the early coinage of the reign, presumably 919/20. There are two varieties, one without and the other (Or. 46) with two pellets in the reverse field.

Class 3 (Romanus I alone). 921.Obv. Bust. Rev. Monogram of PωM. S. XLVII. 7; Or. 49-50; W. p. 458, note 1.

Sabatier, Oreshnikov, and Wroth attribute this to Romanus II, but Miss Sokolova points out that the bust—and the vertical arrangement of the monogram—are marks of an early date. It is perhaps 921.

Class 4 (Romanus I and Christopher). 921. Obv. Bust and PO. Rev. Bust and XP. S.—; Or. 42; W. p. 461. The initials PO and XP in the field leave no doubt of the identification, but the coin is very rare and was probably struck only at the time of Christopher's coronation (921). Since Christopher's bust has been copied without change from that of Zoe it gives him the type of crown, with pinnacles and long pendilia, appropriate to an empress.

Class 5a (large size). Romanus I alone. 921-944. Obv. Monogram of Pω. Rev. Cross on steps. S. XLVI. 8; Or. 34-9; W. 30-1. Common, and probably struck over the whole period 921-44. The form of the monogram varies, the P being sometimes reversed and the ω cup-shaped, while the reverse type is sometimes effaced through incompetent casting.

Class 5b (small size). Romanus I alone. As last, but small. Rare.

Class 6 (large size). Romanus I alone. 921-944. Obv. Monogram of Pω. Rev. Monogram of ΔCΠ. S. XLVI. 9; Or. 32; W.—.

This class, with the monogram of δεσποτης accompanying that of Romanus, is much rarer than Class 5. Since the monogram of Romanus is badly formed, with P instead of P, it is probably late. There is a variety of the monogram on the reverse with a bar across the top, making ΔCΠT instead of simply ΔCΠ.

Class 7 (Romanus I alone). 921-944. Obv. Monogram PωMA. Rev. Cross on steps. S.—; Or. 53; W. —.

It is difficult to say whether this class belongs to Romanus I or Romanus II. Oreshnikov gives it to the later, but the absence of a clear cross monogram and the unlikelihood of several different classes being struck during a reign as short as that of Romanus II, for whom no Constantinopolitan folles are known at all, inclines me to Romanus I.

Class 8 (Romanus I alone). 921-944. Obv. Monogram of PωMA. Rev. Monogram of BA. S.XLVII. 8; Or. 55-6; W. p. 469. The same arguments apply. Sabatier and Oreshnikov, followed by Wroth (p.469), ascribe this class to Romanus II, reading the BA of the reverse type as a monogram of Basil II. But it is unlikely that Romanus’ provincial coinage would have put Basil’s name on the coin, especially without that of Constantine VIII as well, and I prefer to follow Burachkov in interpreting BA as basileus and assign the coin to Romanus I.

Class 9 (Constantine VII alone). 945. Obv. Kω vertically. Rev. Cross on steps. S.—; Or. 47; W. 58. The vertical Kω would point to this being early in the reign, but since there is no bust I prefer to follow Oreshnikov and Wroth in assigning it to 945. Sabatier Pl. XLVI. 17 (p. 128, No. 13 bis) describes a coin combining a bust (instead of Kω) on the obverse with a cross-on-steps reverse, but since he omits the type with Kω obverse and cross-on-steps reverse, I suspect that he has inadvertently mixed two different types.

Class 10 (Constantine VII and Romanus II). 945-959. Obv. Cruciform monogram of Constantine. Rev. Cruciform monogram of Romanus. S. XLVII. 2; Or. 48; W. 77-8. The cruciform monograms place this at the end of the reign, and there is no problem over the attribution.

(from DOC vol. lll)

Coinage