Byzantine Empire Jesus Christ Gold Coin Pendant

Coin: Gold Histamenon
Obverse: Portrait of Jesus Christ
Reverse:  Virgin Mary and Nicephorus II holding Cross
Date: 963-969 A.D.
Bezel: Sterling Silver
Weight:  6 grams
Diameter: 2.4 cm / .95 in

Description

This item is an authentic Byzantine Empire coin, placed in a handmade bezel of Sterling Silver. There is only 1 of this item; you will receive the exact pendant shown in the photos.  

Chain necklaces can be purchased separately through this link.

History of the Artifact

The Byzantine gold histamenon emerged as a prominent coin type during the reign of Nicephorus II Phocas (963–969). The term histamenon originally referred to the "standard" or regular gold coins in Byzantine currency. During this period, Nicephorus II made significant changes to the solidus, which eventually led to the establishment of two different types of gold coins: the histamenon and the tetarteron.

Under Nicephorus II, the traditional solidus was slightly modified to become lighter and thinner, while a second type, the tetarteron, was introduced as a slightly smaller coin, often with a slightly lower gold content. This dual coinage system, introduced by Nicephorus and continued by later emperors, added complexity to Byzantine currency but allowed for more flexibility in payments and taxation, as the tetarteron could be valued slightly less than the histamenon.

In terms of design, Nicephorus II's gold histamena often depicted Christ on the obverse side, seated on a throne and blessing with one hand, reinforcing the idea of divine legitimacy. The reverse usually showed the emperor, sometimes accompanied by the Virgin Mary or a military saint, reflecting Nicephorus II’s emphasis on both religious devotion and military strength.

Nicephorus was known as a warrior emperor, and his designs emphasized his role as both a protector of the empire and a pious Christian leader. His reforms and iconography on the histamenon highlighted the Byzantine Empire’s self-image during a time of military expansion and internal consolidation, making the histamenon a valuable symbol of Byzantine wealth and authority in the 10th century.

Authenticity

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1. Ancient Artifacts exclusively sources artifacts from trusted and reputable antique distributors, many of whom have been selling Artifacts for decades.  
2. Next, the Artifact is inspected by an expert team member, who is professionally trained in counterfeit detection After the artifact passes inspection, the Certificate of Authenticity is signed and the Artifact is packaged. 
3. Finally, Ancient Artifacts gives an additional layer of protection by promising a full refund with no questions asked, in the extremely unlikely event that a counterfeit slips through our vetting process.

Your order will include:

• Byzantine Empire Coin Pendant shown in photos
• Certificate of Authenticity

Ancient Artifacts relics are guaranteed authentic and have a 100% money back policy. Read more about our Mission and Promise for authenticity.