Sale: Triton VIII, Lot: 1452. Estimate $300.  Closing Date: Monday, 10 January 2005.  Sold For $1800. This amount does not include the buyer’s fee.

MICHAEL VII, Ducas. 1071-1078. Æ Half Follis (4.63 gm, 5h). Constantinople mint. IC XC across field, facing bust of Christ, cross behind head, holding Gospels; stars flanking / +MIXL bACIL O DUKIA, facing bust of Michael, wearing crown and loros, labarum and globus cruciger. DOC III 15; SB 1880A. VF, brown patina, light porosity, small pit on obverse. Extremely rare. ($300)

From the Malcolm W. Heckman Collection. Ex Classical Numismatic Group XXXI (9-10 September 1994), lot 1527.

Although other, later bronze types are found on small, lightweight flans, this coin appears to be the last bronze issue that is a fractional denomination of a follis (SB 1878).