Ancient Bronze Byzantine Follis Christ Portrait NGC MS

Perhaps The Most Important Declaration Of Christianity

When striking coins for the masses, the emperors of the Byzantine Empire wanted to make sure they were associated with the highest power imaginable while also promoting their piety. That's why they struck coins featuring the face of Jesus Christ. It's probably no coincidence that during this time the outer edges of the Byzantine Empire was being aggressively chipped away by the Seljuq Turks and for the next 100 years or so the Empire lobbied for Papal support in assembling a coalition to oust the Turks from the Holy Land.

The Face Of Christ Leads The First Crusaders To Victory

This particular coin is a Follis struck sometime during the tenth century and displays the bust of Jesus Christ on the obverse. Subsequent emperors followed suit, striking the coin up until around 1099 following the end of the First Crusade, during which the Byzantine Empire regained all its lost territory. This bronze coin is categorized as an "Anonymous Follis" because the ruling emperor's name and portrait are not part of the design. In other words, it is anonymous. As coins of the realm, Anonymous Follis coins circulated for hundreds of years during the Middle Ages. Few examples exist today and those that have survived down through more than a millennium of history are typically worn, especially on the face of Christ, which occupied the highest point of the coin.

Proclaiming Christ King Of Kings

Though more than 1,000 years old, these coins are truly beautiful, with iridescent coloring on both the obverse and the reverse! Perhaps the most important declaration of Christianity, each coin depicts Christ enthroned, wearing a cross nimbus (cross within halo), a pallium (ritual cloak) and a colobium (tunic without sleeves), holding the Book of Gospels in his left hand, with IC-XC in fields on the left and right. The reverse legend is in four lines: + IhSYS / XRISTYS / bASILEY / bASILE—which translates to "Christ King of Kings."

Authenticated And Graded By NGC In Mint State Condition

The coins we have here are definitely the finest examples we've seen. Each is hand-struck, so no two coins are exactly alike. Though not perfectly centered, none of the important details are lost. Each coin has been authenticated and graded by the Numismatic Guaranty Company (NGC) as being in Mint State (MS) condition. Of the 909 coins of this type that NGC has graded, only 44 are in Mint State condition. We have just three coins available, so act very quickly. These coins are important historical artifacts and will make a wonderful addition to any collection. Hurry and secure yours before our limited supply runs out.