373, Lot: 522. Estimate $200. Sold for $240. This amount does not include the buyer’s fee.

RUSSIA, Kievan Rus. Tmutarakan (Principality). temp. Mstislav Volodimirovich Khorobry (the Brave). Circa 990-1024. BI ‘Miliaresion’ (20mm, 0.92 g, 12h). Imitating a Constantinople mint Miliresion of Basil II Bulgaroktonos. Crowned busts facing, wearing loros and chlamys, respectively; crowns with pendilia; between, long cross crosslet set on base with three steps; pellet-in-crescent on shaft / Pseudo-legend in five lines; ornament above. Cf. Golenko 4-5 (for type); Stack’s, Moneta Imperii Romani Byzantini, lot 3637. Fine, dark green patina with traces of earthen overtones.