Byzantine Silver Miliaresion (Silver Coin) of Emperor John I Tzimiskes (about 1050 years ago)

Sale Price:$382.50 Original Price:$450.00
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This silver miliaresion (Byzantine silver coin similar to a dirham) was minted between 969-976 AD in Constantinople (modern Istanbul, Turkey) during the reign of Emperor John I Tzimiskes.

  • Front Side: Likely features a religious image or inscription in Greek

  • Back Side: Probably displays imperial titles and symbols of authority

Technical Details:

Material: Silver (AR)

Condition: VF+ (Very Fine Plus)

References: S-1792, DO-7B

Historical Significance: John I Tzimiskes was a Byzantine emperor who came to power by assassinating his predecessor, Nikephoros II Phokas. Despite this violent beginning, his brief reign was marked by significant military victories against the Rus' and the Arabs, expanding Byzantine influence in Syria and eastward. The miliaresion was designed to compete with Islamic silver dirhams in international trade, showing the economic importance of maintaining Byzantine commercial connections with both European and Middle Eastern markets. Coins of this period often featured strong Christian imagery, reflecting the empire's religious identity during a time of conflict with neighboring Islamic powers.

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This silver miliaresion (Byzantine silver coin similar to a dirham) was minted between 969-976 AD in Constantinople (modern Istanbul, Turkey) during the reign of Emperor John I Tzimiskes.

  • Front Side: Likely features a religious image or inscription in Greek

  • Back Side: Probably displays imperial titles and symbols of authority

Technical Details:

Material: Silver (AR)

Condition: VF+ (Very Fine Plus)

References: S-1792, DO-7B

Historical Significance: John I Tzimiskes was a Byzantine emperor who came to power by assassinating his predecessor, Nikephoros II Phokas. Despite this violent beginning, his brief reign was marked by significant military victories against the Rus' and the Arabs, expanding Byzantine influence in Syria and eastward. The miliaresion was designed to compete with Islamic silver dirhams in international trade, showing the economic importance of maintaining Byzantine commercial connections with both European and Middle Eastern markets. Coins of this period often featured strong Christian imagery, reflecting the empire's religious identity during a time of conflict with neighboring Islamic powers.

This silver miliaresion (Byzantine silver coin similar to a dirham) was minted between 969-976 AD in Constantinople (modern Istanbul, Turkey) during the reign of Emperor John I Tzimiskes.

  • Front Side: Likely features a religious image or inscription in Greek

  • Back Side: Probably displays imperial titles and symbols of authority

Technical Details:

Material: Silver (AR)

Condition: VF+ (Very Fine Plus)

References: S-1792, DO-7B

Historical Significance: John I Tzimiskes was a Byzantine emperor who came to power by assassinating his predecessor, Nikephoros II Phokas. Despite this violent beginning, his brief reign was marked by significant military victories against the Rus' and the Arabs, expanding Byzantine influence in Syria and eastward. The miliaresion was designed to compete with Islamic silver dirhams in international trade, showing the economic importance of maintaining Byzantine commercial connections with both European and Middle Eastern markets. Coins of this period often featured strong Christian imagery, reflecting the empire's religious identity during a time of conflict with neighboring Islamic powers.

John I Tzimiskes (Greek: Ἰωάννης ὁ Τζιμισκής, romanizedIōánnēs ho Tzimiskēs; c. 925 – 10 January 976) was the senior Byzantine emperor from 969 to 976. An intuitive and successful general who married into the influential Skleros family, he strengthened and expanded the Byzantine Empire to include Thrace and Syria by warring with the Rus' under Sviatoslav I and the Fatimids respectively.

John was born in present-day Çemişgezek in Tunceli Province. His father was a scion of the Kourkouas family, a clan of still debated Armenian origin[3] that had established itself as one of the chief families among the Anatolian military aristocracy by the early 10th century.[4][5][6] His mother belonging to the Phokas family of unknown ethnicity, maybe Greek-Armenian origin.[7][8] Scholars have speculated that "Tzimiskes" was derived either from the Armenian Chmushkik (Չմշկիկ), meaning "red boot",[9] or from an Armenian word for "short stature", as explained by Leo the Deacon.[10] A more favorable explanation is offered by the medieval Armenian historian Matthew of Edessa, who states that Tzimiskes was from the region of Khozan, from the area called Chmushkatzag.[11] Khozan was located in the region of Paghnatun, in the Byzantine province of Fourth Armenia (Sophene).[12] Either way, "Tzimiskes" was a surname used by other members of John's family, as the Armenian historian Stepanos Asoghik refers to him as the "grandson of Č‘mškik".[13]

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