Here is a miliaresion (silver and relatively large coin) of John I Tzimiskes born in 925 and Byzantine emperor from 969-976. He became involved in a palace intrigue against the incumbent emperor Nikephoros II with Nikephoros' wife. She was exiled, he became emperor. Not a bit fair, really. He was an adept negotiator with the church and allowed the church once again to own land. He was also an adept general and Byzantine interests prospered. We don't really know what he looked like, among other reasons because the people of the time didn't entirely care in the way we do in this, the height of the cult of the individual (one could make all manner of comments about the kinds of individuals that has gotten us especially at the top). Here is an artistic interpretation and here is a miniature from the Madrid Skylitzes MS of John. The coin also gives us a bit of an idea but not much. He financed and expanded a small chapel in Constantinople by the Chalkis gate call Arslan Hane in Turkish (yes, probably where C.S. Lewis got the name for his lead character). You can see it in this small drawing to the left of the green area. He endowed this church with 50 clergy if you can imagine that. This was a very different time than today and the Byzantine empire would have been highly amused at Americans' notion of the 'separation of church and state' and thought us blundering exegetists at best. The church, mostly in ruins, was completed bulldozed in 1804, something I find sad but probably a necessity of a poor country needing to build modern buildings. All of John's reign, his people, bishops, court officials and others have their souls safe in God's hands. I sometimes wonder if God allocates more delight to the present or to those countless centuries that have gone before and their great incense-filled glory.
@Gary Waddingham , thanks for the interesting post with good images. John I was the Byzantine emperor who initiated the "anonymous follis" series. Coins of "Class A1" are attributed to him: Class A1, Sear 1793 24-22 mm. 5.74 grams. Facing nimbate bust of Christ with two dots in each limb. +IhSUS XRISTUS bASILEU bASILE with no decoration above or below. For much more about anonymous folles, see: http://augustuscoins.com/ed/ByzAnon/
Neat coin and write up! Oh really? I wonder if that's why Turkish delight shows up!? I loved those books when I was a kid!
