Rare Variety

217, Lot: 473. Estimate $75. Sold for $320. This amount does not include the buyer’s fee.

Manuel I Comnenus. 1143-1180. Æ Tetarteron (19mm, 3.726 g, 5h). Constantinople mint. Struck circa 1167-1180/3. The Theotokos Hagiosoritissa right; manus Dei to upper right / Manuel standing facing, holding labarum and akakia. DOC 15 var. (holding cruciform scepter and akakia); SB 1945 var. (same). VF, black patina. Rare.

From the Chris Connell Collection.

The Theotokos Hagiosoritissa (“of the holy soros”[reliquary chest]) was an iconographic type showing the Theotokos in profile with both hands extended in prayer. It probably reflects an icon from a chapel in the church of the Blachernai Monastery in Constantinople.