374, Lot: 597. Estimate $200. Sold for $900. This amount does not include the buyer’s fee.

Basil II Bulgaroktonos, with Constantine VIII. 976-1025. AR Miliaresion (26mm, 2.44 g, 6h). Constantinople mint. Struck 989. ӨCЄ Ь’ Ө’ TOIS ЬASIL’ S’, Facing bust of the Virgin Mary, holding Christ medallion on breast; barred (MHP) - ӨV across field / + MЄR ӨU / DЄDOXASM / O ЄIS SЄ ЄL / ΠIZωҺ OU / CAROT X in five lines; dash above; below, pelleted cross between dashes. DOC 19; SB 1809. VF, flan broken and repaired. Very rare.

Ex Rauch 75 (6 May 2005), lot 1022.

This commemorative issue, with its obverse inscription “O Virgin, aid the emperors,” dates to the battle of Abydos in 989, where Basil defeated the last of his internal opponents for the throne. The reverse inscription is translated as “Mother of God, full of glory, he who puts his trust in thee will never fail in his undertakings”