Sale: Triton VIII, Lot: 1451. Estimate $250.  Closing Date: Monday, 10 January 2005.  Sold For $575. This amount does not include the buyer’s fee.

ROMANUS IV, Diogenes. 1068-1071. AV Histamenon Nomisma (4.38 gm, 6h). Constantinople mint. KWN MX AND, Michael, holding labarum and akakia, and Constantius and Andronicus, each holding globus cruciger and akakia, and wearing saccos and loros, standing facing on footstool / +PWMANS EVDUKIA, IC XC across field, Christ, nimbate, standing facing on footstool, crowning Romanus and Eudocia, each standing facing, wearing saccos and loros, and holding globus cruciger. DOC III 1; SB 1859. EF. ($250)

From the Malcolm W. Heckman Collection.

Taking the normal orientation of concavity, the obverse of the histamena of Romanus is the side with the three sons of Eudocia, while Christ blessing their marriage takes the reverse. The supporters of Eudocia wished to emphasize the seniority of the sons of Constantine in the succession.