Sale: Nomos 5, Lot: 262. Estimate CHF1600.  Closing Date: Monday, 24 October 2011.  Sold For CHF1800. This amount does not include the buyer’s fee.

Constantine V Copronymus, with Leo IV. 741-775. Solidus (Gold, 4.38 g 6), c. 757-775. COnSTAnTInoS S LEOn nEOS Crowned equal sized busts of Constantine V, bearded and on the left, and Leo IV, beardless and on the right, facing and wearing chlamys; between their heads, cross and pellet. Rev. d LEOn P A MUL Crowned bust of Leo III facing, wearing loros and holding a cross potent on base in his right hand. DOC 2d. SB 1551. A very clear and unusually fine example, perfectly struck. Good extremely fine.

The second figure on the obverse of this coin is Constantine’s young son Leo IV, whose mother was Tzitzak, the daughter of the ruler of the Khazars. Her name was changed to a more civilized Irene when she was baptized before the marriage in 732 (she must have still been very young since their child, Constantine, was only born in 750; she died in childbirth).