1028, Byzantine Empire, Romanus III. Gold Hyperpyron Nomisma Coin. Emperor: Romanus III Argyrus. Reference: DOC 1d, Sear 1819. Denomination: Gold Hyperpyron Nomisma Condition. Certified and graded by NGC as XF 5/5, 3/5! Weight: 4.35gm Material: Gold! Obverse: Christ, nimbate, seated facing, raising right hand in benediction and holding Book of Gospels in left. All within double border. Legend: +IhS XIS RX RGNANTIhM Reverse: Romanus, left, crowned and wearing loros, standing facing and holding globus cruciger; the Virgin, right, veiled and nimbate, standing facing and crowning the Emperor. John II Komnenos (or Comnenus). (September 13, 1087 April 8, 1143) was Byzantine Emperor from 1118 to 1143. (“John the Beautiful”), he was the eldest son of Emperor Alexios I Komnenos and Irene Doukaina. The second Emperor of the Komnenian restoration of the Byzantine Empire, John was a pious and dedicated emperor who was determined to undo the damage his Empire had suffered at the battle of Manzikert, half a century earlier. In the course of his twenty-five year reign, John made alliances with the Holy Roman Empire in the west, decisively defeated the Pechenegs in the Balkans, and personally led numerous campaigns against the Turks in Asia Minor. John’s campaigns fundamentally changed the balance of power in the east, forcing the Turks onto the defensive and restoring to the Byzantines many towns, fortresses and cities right across the peninsula. In the southeast, John extended Byzantine control from the Maeander in the west all the way to Cilicia and Tarsus in the east. In an effort to demonstrate the Byzantine emperor’s role as the leader of the Christian world, John marched into the Holy Land at the head of the combined forces of Byzantium and the Crusader states; yet despite the great vigour with which he pressed the campaign, John’s hopes were disappointed by the treachery of his Crusader allies, who deliberately failed to fight against the Muslim enemy at the crucial moment. Also under John, the empire’s population recovered to about 10 million people. The Latin historian William of Tyre described John as short and unusually ugly, with eyes, hair and complexion so dark he was known as’the Moor’. Yet despite his physical appearance, John was known as. “John the Handsome” or “John the Beautiful”. The epithet referred not to his body but to his soul. Both his parents had been unusually pious and John surpassed them. Members of his court were expected to restrict their conversation to serious subjects only. The food served at the emperor’s table was very frugal and John lectured courtiers who lived in excessive luxury. Despite his austerity, John was loved. His principles were sincerely held and his integrity great. John was famed for his piety and his remarkably mild and just reign. He is an exceptional example of a moral ruler, at a time when cruelty was the norm. He never condemned anyone to death or mutilation. Charity was dispensed lavishly. For this reason, he has been called the Byzantine Marcus Aurelius. By the personal purity and piety of his character he effected a notable improvement in the manners of his age. Gifted with great self control and personal courage, John was an excellent strategist and an expert. In the field, and through his many campaigns he devoted himself to the preservation of his empire. The item “1028, Byzantine Empire, Romanus III. Gold Hyperpyron Nomisma Coin. NGC XF 5/3″ is in sale since Tuesday, July 6, 2021. This item is in the category “Coins & Paper Money\Coins\ Ancient\Byzantine (300-1400 AD)”. The seller is “coinworldtv” and is located in Wien. This item can be shipped worldwide.
- Modified Item: No
- Certification Number: 5780958-008
- Certification: NGC
- Grade: AU 4/2
- Historical Period: Byzantine (300-1400 AD)
- Denomination: Solidus
- KM Number: See detailed description for full data!
- Era: Ancient
