Sale: CNG 66, Lot: 1788. Estimate $1000.  Closing Date: Wednesday, 19 May 2004.  Sold For $1550. This amount does not include the buyer’s fee.

NICEPHORUS BASILACIUS, Rebel. Summer, 1078. Æ Follis (7.22 gm). Thessalonica mint. +NIKHFO ROC BAC, nimbate facing bust of Christ, raising hand in benediction and holding Gospels; A in right field / Patriarchal cross on base; IC XC NI KA around. DOC III pg. 706, N.1; P. Grierson, "Nicephorus Bryennius or Nicephorus Basilacius?" NumCirc 1976 pg. 2-3, type c; R. Bland, "A Follis of Nicephorus Basilacius?" NumChron 1992, pg. 175-6; SB 1903A. Good VF, dark green patina. Overstruck on uncertain type, and then double struck. Extremely rare and possibly the clearest strike among the fewer than ten known specimens. ($1000)

Nicephorus Basilacius was a rebel general who held the city of Thessalonica during the summer of 1078, revolting against the legitimate emperor Nicephorus III, Botaniates. He was overcome by Alexius Comnenus, a loyal general, but one who soon turned against Botaniates when Alexius' brother-in-law, Nicephorus Melissenus, also revolted.

When DOC III was published in 1973, neither of the two specimens known at that time had any visible legend, so the type was called Class N Anonymous folles. Between 1976 and 1991, additional examples were discovered, rendering among them the complete obverse legend. This specimen shows an A in the right field by the shoulder of Christ, a detail not visible in any of the published specimens.