Constantine VIII. 1025-1028. AV Histamenon Nomisma (24.5mm, 4.42 g, 6h). Constantinople mint. EF.

CNG Feature Auction 133
Lot: 713. Estimated: $ 1 000

Byzantine, Coin-in-Hand Video, Gold

Sold For $ 2 750. This amount does not include the buyer’s fee.

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Constantine VIII. 1025-1028. AV Histamenon Nomisma (24.5mm, 4.42 g, 6h). Constantinople mint. Nimbate facing bust of Christ Pantokrator, raising hand in benediction and holding Gospels; upturned crescent in upper two quarters of nimbus / Crowned facing bust of Constantine facing, wearing jeweled loros, holding labarum and akakia; pellet on shaft. DOC 2; Füeg II 2.A.7; SB 1815. Toned. EF.

From the Best Collection of Byzantine Coins. Ex Pegasi Numismatics BBS 123 (30 July 2001), lot 17.

Basil II’s younger brother, Constantine VIII, had been kept in the background during Basil’s long reign as senior emperor, for good reason. As lazy and pleasure-addicted as lazy and as Basil had been diligent and austere, Constantine VIII became sole emperor as a 65-year-old widower upon his brother’s death in 1025. Long accustomed to the genteel pleasures of court life, he showed little interest in actually governing and did little of note during his brief sole reign except to begin dismantling the edifice his brother had created. On his death bed in 1028, he arranged for his daughter Zöe to marry an elderly aristocrat, Romanus Argyrus, ensuring he would be succeeded by another ineffectual court functionary. Despite his weak character, Constantine VIII’s gold coinage projects strength, confidence and artistic prowess, with one of the best renditions of Christ Pantokrator to be found in the Byzantine series.

The final winners of all CNG Feature Auction 133 lots will be determined at the live online sale that will be held on 15-16 September 2026.

CNG Feature Auction 133 – Session Three – Lot 595-896 will be held Wednesday morning, 16 September 2026 beginning at 9:00 AM 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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