Browsing Byzantine Coinage of Nicephorus II
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The reign of the military commander, Nicephorus, who married his predecessor's widow, Theophano, saw the recapture of Cyprus and the annexation of parts of Syria, including Antioch which had been lost 300 years before. Raised taxes made him unpopular and he was murdered by his wife's lover in 969 AD.
| SB 1776 | Nicephorus II AV histamenon nomisma. +IhS XGS REX REGNATIUM, bust of nimbate Christ facing, hand raised and holding book of gospels in left, three dots in each limb of the cross / nICHFOP' CE bASIL' AUGG IR, facing busts of Nicephorus with short beard, wearing loros, on left, and Basil II, beardless, wearing chlamys on right, holding long patriarchal cross between them. DO 1; Sear 1776. | Text | Image |
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| SB 1777 | Nicephorus II AV histamenon nomisma. +IhS XGS REX REGNATIUM, bust of nimbate Christ facing, hand raised and holding book of gospels in left, two or three dots in each limb of the cross / NIKHFOP KAI RACIL' AVG'R' P', facing busts of Nicephorus with short beard, wearing loros, on left, and Basil II, beardless, wearing chlamys on right, holding long patriarchal cross between them. DO 2; Sear 1777. | Text | Image |
| SB 1778 | Nicephorus II Phocas, AV Histamenon Nomisma. Constantinople mint. +IhS XPS REX REGNANTInm, bust of nimbate Christ facing, hand raised and holding book of gospels in left, varying number of dots in the limbs of the cross / +QEOTOC b'H'Q NICHF dESP (or similar), facing busts of the virgin Mary, nimbate, on left, and Nicephorus, with short beard, crown and loros, on right, holding patriarchal cross between them. DO 4; Sear 1778 | Text | Image |
| SB 1781 | Nicephorus II Phocas, AR Miliaresion. Constantinople. +IhSUS XPISTUS NICA and star, cross crosslet (i.e. with crosses at the ends of the arms) on globe above two steps, at the centre medallion of four lobes containing facing bust of Nicephorus with short beard, wearing crown and loros and dividing the inscription n over I–C over F, all within triple border ornamented with eight equally spaced globes / + nICHF’ En XW AVTOCRAT’ EVSEb’ bASILEVS RWMAIW’, legend in five lines, cross of dots above and below, all within triple border ornamented with eight equally spaced globes. DO 6. Sear 1781. | Text | Image |
| SB 1782 | Nicephorus II Phocas, AE Follis. Constantinople. NICIFR bASIL ROM, crowned bust facing with short beard, wearing loros, holding labarum and cross on globe / NICHF-EN QEW bA-SILEVS RW-MAIWN, legend in four lines. SB 1782, DOC 8. | Text | Image |
| SB 1783 | Nicephorus II Phocas, AE Follis. Constantinople. NICIFR bASIL RW, crowned bust facing with short beard, wearing loros and additional jewelled robe, holding cross-topped sceptre and trefoil on globe / NICHF-EN QEW bA-SILEVS RW-MAIWN, legend in four lines. SB 1783, DOC 7. | Text | Image |
| SB 1784 | Nicephorus II Phocas, AE 15mm, Cherson mint. Monogram Sear 52 resembling a cross with P-K-K-N at the ends of the arms, clockwise from top / Monogram Sear 53 resembling an A with E to left, crescent on dot above, C to right. SB 1784, DOC 9. | Text | Image |
