Constantine IX

Constantine IX Monomachus: June 12, 1042 - January 11, 1055

Notes from Dumbarton Oaks on the development of gold coinage during the reign of Constantine IX on p.735 (Table 25)
Class	Fineness	Obverse	Reverse
Histamena
I	945, 905, 900	Seated Christ	Bust of emperor, wearing traditional loros, holding scepter with leaved cross and globus cruciger with patriarchal cross
II	900, 830	Seated Christ	Bust of emperor, wearing traditional loros, holding labarum and globus cruciger with plain cross
III	865, 860, 855	Bust of Christ, two crescents in nimbus, book clasped with outspread hand	Bust of emperor, wearing modified loros, holding scepter with plain cross and globus cruciger
IV	820, 815, 765	Bust of Christ, plain nimbus, book clasped with outspread hand	Bust of emperor, wearing modified loros, holding sword and globus cruciger, stars on either side of head
Tetartera
I	865	Bust of Christ, plain nimbus, book clasped with outspread hand	Bust of emperor, wearing modified loros, holding trefoil scepter and globus cruciger
II	725, 700	Bust of Christ, plain nimbus, book held from beneath	Bust of emperor, wearing modified loros, holding labarum and globus cruciger

Note: The stars in the fields on the Class IV histamena are still in debate. The two explanations are - 1) simply a series device with the continued debasement of the denomination, or 2) the stars represent the supernova of what is now the Crab Nebula in the constellation Taurus on July 4, 1054 as it was visible for weeks and documented by astronomers at the time. The dating would coincide with the event, so either possibility is plausible.

	Constantine IX Monomachus, AV Histamenon Nomisma, 1042-1055, Class I, Constantinople + IhS XIS REX-REVNANTInm Christ, seated facing on curved-armed throne, wearing nimbus cruciger, pallium and colobium, raising right hand in benediction, holding Gospels with left, triple border +CwnSt_Antn-bASILEuS Rm Bust of Constantine IX facing, bearded, wearing crown, loros and saccos, crucifrom scepter with tendril-ornament in right hand, globus cruciger in left, triple border 29mm x 31mm, 4.34g SB 1828 Note: This example is on a thin, spread flan, but not the usually encountered scyphate form.
	Constantine IX Monomachus, AV Histamenon Nomisma Scyphate, 1042-1055, Class I, Constantinople + IhS XIS REX-REςNANTInm Christ, seated facing on curved-armed throne, wearing nimbus cruciger, pallium and colobium, raising right hand in benediction, holding Gospels with left, triple border +CwnSt_Antn-bASILEЧS R Bust of Constantine IX facing, bearded, wearing crown, loros and saccos, crucifrom scepter with tendril-ornament in right hand, globus cruciger in left, triple border 27mm x 29mm, 4.31g SB 1828
	Constantine IX Monomachus, AV Histamenon Nomisma Scyphate, 1042-1055, Class II, Constantinople + IhS XIS REX-REVNANTInm Christ, seated facing on curved-armed throne, wearing nimbus cruciger, pallium and colobium, raising right hand in benediction, holding Gospels with left, triple border +CwnS_tAnt-bASILEuS Rm Bust of Constantine IX facing, bearded, wearing crown, loros and saccos, labarum in right hand, globus cruciger in left, triple border 25mm x 27mm, 4.40g SB 1829
	Byzantine Empire, Constantine IX Monomachus, AV Tetarteron Nomisma, 1042-1055, Class I, Constantinople + IhS XIS RЄX-REΓNΛNTInm Nimbate bust of Christ facing, right hand raised in benediction, holding Gospels with outspread left hand + CωnSτ_Λτ b_ΛSILEuS Rm Crowned bust of Constantine facing, scepter surmounted by trefoil in right hand, globus cruciger in left 19mm x 21mm, 4.01g, .865 fine gold SB 1832; DOC 5 Ex Triskeles Auction I, Lot 159, April 2013
	Constantine IX Monomachus, AR Miliaresion Scyphate, 1042-1055, Constantinople + ΔECΠOI_NA CωZOIC The Virgin orans, nimbate, standing facing on footstool, wearing pallium and maphorium, MP \| ΘV across fields, double border EVCEBH-MONOMAXON Constantine IX standing facing, bearded, wearing crown, cuirass, tunic, cloak and high boots, long cross in right hand, left hand resting on sheathed sword, double border 26mm x 30mm, 2.87g SB 1834