Ancients: Michael III 'the Drunkard' (AD 842-867), with Theodora and Thecla. AV solidus (19mm, 4.42 gm, 7h). NGC MS★ 5/5 - 5/5....

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Top Certified, Mint State Star Solidus

Michael III 'the Drunkard' (AD 842-867), with Theodora and Thecla. AV solidus (19mm, 4.42 gm, 7h). NGC MS★ 5/5 - 5/5. Constantinople, ca. AD 842-850. +ΘЄOdO-RA dЄSPVhA, facing bust of Theodora, wearing crown with two double pinnacles, pendilia and loros, cruciform scepter in left hand, globus surmounted by patriarchal cross in right / MIXAHLS Θ-ЄCLA, facing half-length length of Michael III (on left), wearing crown and chlamys, globus cruciger in right hand, and his sister Thecla (on right), wearing crown with two rounded pinnacles and surmounted by cross, pendilia, and loros, patriarchal cross in right hand, akakia in left. Sear 1686. DOC 1e. Excellently centered on a gleaming flan, and struck from fresh, meticulously engraved dies. Highest certified example of this rare and attractive issue.

From the Kestenband Collection. Ex Sotheby's, Auction 7214 (2 November 1998), lot 462.

Theodora, who ruled as regent for Michael III during his long minority, was one of the more successful female Byzantine rulers. She was wed to the newly crowned Theophilus in AD 830 following a "bride show" in which eligible maidens from all over the Empire were paraded before the young emperor. She remained a fervent iconodule despite the strict iconoclasm of her husband, and bore him seven children over 12 years. In AD 842, Theophilus died at only 29 years of age; his only surviving son was the three-year old Michael III, who had already been declared emperor and succeeded without opposition, with Theodora acting as regent. She was ably assisted by her brothers, Bardas and Petronas, as well as by Theoktistos, the logothete (admiral) of the Byzantine navy. The borders were maintained, Arab and Slavic raids repulsed, and the century-old iconoclastic controversy ended diplomatically by a restoration of icons (as objects of veneration, not worship), without reprisal on those who had sought their destruction. Throughout, she demonstrated herself an effective and capable ruler. In typical Byzantine fashion, though, she soon fell victim to court intrigues by her brother Bardas, who conspired with the young Michael in AD 856 to remove Theodora from power. Once deposed, she was confined to a convent and could only watch helplessly as a lowborn but ambitious courtier named Basil wormed his way into her son's affections, did away with Bardas, ultimately murdered Michael, and ascended the throne himself in AD 867 as Basil I the Macedonian.

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