Coin Item Number: 3095/1498 from the MOA: University of British Columbia
Description
Byzantine coin of John II, 1118-1143. Obverse: bust of the Virgin Mary, facing front; she raises her hands in prayer; to left, inscription says ‘MP’; to right, ‘Θ[V]’. Reverse: John II, standing and facing front; he wears a chlamys and a divitision, which is a military tunic; to left, he holds a jewelled sceptre; to right, he holds a globus cruciger; to left, inscription is five lines long, and says ‘IW/ΔEC/ΠOT/TW/ΠOP’; to right, most of the inscription is illegible, but the first two lines say ‘Φ/PO’.
History Of Use
“Tetarteron” (denomination); Sear# 1946.
Narrative
The Virgin Mary is described in the Sear catalogue as the ‘Virgin Orans’, meaning the ‘Praying Virgin’. The inscription on the obverse translates as ‘Mother of God’. The 'Virgin Orans' was a much copied image in Byzantine art and coinage, and is still found on Ukrainian coinage today.
Item History
- Made in Thessalonica, Greece between 1118 and 1143
- Owned by David Herman before February 2, 2015
- Received from David Herman (Donor) on February 2, 2015
What
- Name
- Coin
- Identification Number
- 3095/1498
- Type of Item
- coin
- Material
- bronze metal
- Overall
- height 0.2 cm, diameter 1.8 cm
Who
- Culture
- Byzantine
- Previous Owner
- David Herman
- Received from
- David Herman (Donor)
Where
- Holding Institution
- MOA: University of British Columbia
- Made in
- Thessalonica, Greece
When
- Creation Date
- between 1118 and 1143
- Ownership Date
- before February 2, 2015
- Acquisition Date
- on February 2, 2015
Other
- Item Classes
- metalwork
- Condition
- fair
- Accession Number
- 3095/1498