Sale: Triton XI, Lot: 1169. Estimate $1000.  Closing Date: Monday, 7 January 2008.  Sold For $1000. This amount does not include the buyer’s fee.

Michael VII Ducas. 1071-1078. PB Seal (36mm, 38.56 g, 12h). IC XC across field; Christ enthroned facing, wearing chiton and himation, holding book of Gospels in left hand, right hand in benediction / +MIXAH AVTO KRAT PwM O D(OY)KA, Michael VII standing facing, wearing crown, divitision, and loros, holding labarum in right hand and globus cruciger in left. Cf. BLS I 95c-d; Seibt & Zarnitz 3.2.4; DOCBS -; Seyrig -; Vatican -; Orghidan -; Jordanov -. VF, brown-gray patina.

From the Robert E. Hecht Collection.

Michael was still young when his father, Constantine X, died in 1067, and his mother, Eudokia Makrembolitissa, and Romanus IV ruled in place. When Romanus was defeated in battle in 1071, Michael gained the throne. Upon his accession, however, he took little interest in the business of ruling and delegated many of his responsibilities to the thoroughly unpopular eunuch Nikephoritzes. Michael’s reign saw a series of rebellions staged by pretenders to the throne. He abdicated in 1078 when Nicephorus Botaneiates was declared emperor by his troops in Asia Minor and spent the remainder of his life as a monk.