Authentic Genuine Ancient (11th Century A.D., 900+ Years Old!) Eastern Roman Empire (Byzantine) Jesus Christ Portrait Large Bronze Follis Coin minted by the Emperor Romanus III, circa 1028 - 1034 A.D. Certificate of Authenticity Included.

The coin minted in Constantinople. Obverse: Nimbate bust of Christ facing, square in each limb of cross; wearing pallium and collobium and holding book of Gospels. Reverse: Inscription in Greek in three lines divided by limbs of cross with dot at each extremity on three-stepped base. Reference book: SB 1823. Provenance: Savoca Coins Auction House (Munich, Germany). 

Shipping fee: $4.99.  Thank you for visiting.

Historical Facts:

The Byzantine "Anonymous Follis" On these bronze coins of the Byzantine Empire the emperor's name and portrait are not part of the design, hence they are anonymous. Instead of the earthly king, these coins depict Jesus Christ, King of Kings. Constantine, whose earlier coinage played homage to various pagan gods, including the sun god Sol (favored by many Romans) placed the Chi-Rho on some of his coins in the years after his conversion. But the cautious Constantine did not display Christian symbols prominently on his coins. 

The portrait of Christ made its first appearance on a coin during the reign of Justinian II, 685 - 695 A.D., on a gold solidus. It was not until the tenth century - almost a thousand years after the birth of Christ - that Jesus appeared on bronze coins. Beginning with John I Tzimisces, who ruled from AD 969 - 976, for a period of about 123 years, the Roman emperors abandoned the usual practice of putting their own portraits on coins. The emperor's portrait on the bronze coinage gave way to a portrait of Christ. 

Approximately sixteen different types of these bronze coins were struck, all designed to honor Christ and all acknowledging the subservient role of the emperor. Virtually all of them feature a bearded bust of Christ that emerges from a cross-surrounded by a halo. The backs (reverses) of these coins display various designs and legends. The most common reverses are the four-line legend "Jesus Christ King of Kings" (IHSUS XRISTUS BASILEU BASILE) or the two-line legend "May Jesus Christ Conquer" (IC XC on the top left and top right sides of a cross, and NI- KA on the bottom left and right sides of a cross). These remarkable coins are known as "anonymous Byzantine folles" (folles is the plural of follis, the denomination of the coin.