The Theotokos Blachernitissa
Constantine IX Monomachus. 1042-1055. AR 2/3 Miliaresion (24mm, 2.05 g, 6h). Constantinople mint. H RΛAXЄP NITICA around, nimbate facing bust of the Theotokos,
orans, wearing tunic and maphorion; (MHP) ΘV, both with macron above, flanking head / – – –/ Θ KЄR, Θ,/ KωNCTAN/TINω ΔЄC/ΠOTH Tω/ MONOMA/ – X, – in seven lines. DOC 8a; SB 1835. Toned, hairline flan crack, a few light scratches. EF. A wonderfully complete example of this difficult issue.
This miliaresion invokes the Theotokos as Blachernitissa, or, the Theotokos of the Blachernae, which refers to an icon that was kept in the Blachernae section of Constantinople near the palace. To which church specifically it belonged is a matter of some debate. If it is indeed the original icon, it was later discovered to have been moved to Mt. Athos before the fall of Constantinople as it resurfaced there some two hundred years later before being sent to Russia as a gift to the Tsar.
