Obolos 20

Nicephorus Basilacius, usurper, 1078. Follis (Bronze, 23 mm, 6.72 g, 12 h). IC - XC Nimbate facing bust of Christ Pantokrator. Rev. C - B / (NH) - KΦ Jeweled cross set upon base. DOC -. SB -, but cf. 1902 and 1903A (both under Alexius I). Unique and unpublished. Brown patina. Crudely struck, otherwise, very fine.

From a collection in North Germany.

This coin appears to be a new type of the anonymous folles attributed by Sear and others to Alexius I (classes J through N), but is most likely an issue of the usurper, Nicephorus Basilacius. The obverse is identical to both SB 1902 and SB 1903A, but differs in its reverse design. SB 1902 shows a cross pattée, an illustration of which can be found in Hendy (pl. 2, 22) and which is quite different from the cross on our coin. SB 1903A is described as a patriarchal cross. Our coin shows a simple cross with each arm terminating in a globe or large pellet, and with a vine-like design along all its arms. Thus, it is an unpublished and probably unique piece.