Basil II Bulgaroktonos, with Constantine VIII. 976-1025. AV Histamenon Nomisma (22mm, 4.23 g, 6h). Constantinople mint. Struck 977-circa 989. Near EF.

CNG Feature Auction 132
Lot: 916. Estimated: $ 4 000

Byzantine, Coin-in-Hand Video, Gold

Sold For $ 6 500. This amount does not include the buyer’s fee.

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Basil II Bulgaroktonos, with Constantine VIII. 976-1025. AV Histamenon Nomisma (22mm, 4.23 g, 6h). Constantinople mint. Struck 977-circa 989. Nimbate facing bust of Christ Pantokrator, raising hand in benediction and holding Gospels; • within circle in quarters of nimbus / Crowned facing half-length busts of Basil, wearing loros, and Constantine, wearing chlamys, together holding long patriarchal cross between them; crossbar with • beneath on shaft of patriarchal cross. DOC – but cf. 2j (for similar); Füeg II 2.JJ; cf. SB 1796 (same). Toned. Near EF. Extremely rare. Only one known to Füeg. This and the following coin are both extremely rare examples from early emissions of Basil II and Constantine VIII issued before the much more prevalent SB 1800’s. These early issues are very rarely encountered.

The son of Romanus II, Basil II theoretically inherited the purple at the age of five when his father died in AD 963. However, he was overshadowed by regents and co-emperors until AD 976. He had to fight off several challenges to his rule and was not fully secure until AD 989. The experience made a hard, austere man of him. Monastic in tastes and militant in manners, he never married and devoted his whole reign to administering the state and leading armies into battle. He expended enormous efforts toward destroying the Bulgarian menace once and for all. At the Battle of Kleidion in 1014, he acquired his nickname “Bulgar–slayer” (Bulgaroktonos) when he captured and blinded 15,000 Bulgarians; the Bulgarian Tsar Samuel reportedly died of a heart attack when he beheld the fate of his men. The Fatamids and Arabs also felt Basil’s wrath, and he oversaw the annexation of Georgia to the Empire. He kept wealthy aristocrats on a short leash and favored peasants and small farmers, the backbone of the army. By Basil’s death in 1025, the medieval Byzantine Empire had reached its greatest size, power, and prestige. Maintaining it would require rulers possessing similar devotion to duty; regrettably, this character was lacking from many of his successors who proceeded to squander away his legacy with astonishing speed.

The final winners of all CNG Feature Auction 132 lots will be determined at the live online sale that will be held on 18-19 May 2026.

CNG Feature Auction 132 – Session Four – Lot 889-1124 will be held Tuesday afternoon, 19 May 2026 beginning at 2:00 PM ET.

Winning bids are subject to a 22.5% buyer's fee for bids placed on this website and 25% for all others.

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