Sale: Triton VIII, Lot: 1422. Estimate $250.  Closing Date: Monday, 10 January 2005.  Sold For $625. This amount does not include the buyer’s fee.

MICHAEL III, 'the Drunkard'. 842-867 AD. Base AV Semissis (1.70 gm, 5h). Syracuse mint. Struck 866 AD. MI XAHL, facing bust, wearing crown and chlamys, holding patriarchal cross on globus / MIXAHL, similar bust, but wearing loros. Spahr -; DOC-; SB 1694 variety. Choice EF. Unique and unpublished. ($250)

From the Malcolm W. Heckman Collection. Ex Classical Numismatic Group 37 (20 March 1996), lot 2116.

After Theodora, Michael's controlling mother, was deposed in 866 her initial was removed from the Syracusan gold. At the same time, the patriarchal globus was changed to a plain globus cruciger. On this unique variety, the engraver removed the Q, but left the globus unchanged.