Romanus III Argyrus, 1028-1034, gold Histamenon, Constantinopolis

Romanus III Argyrus (1028-1034 AD), gold Histamenon, Constantinopolis,+IҺS XIS RЄX RЄGNANTIҺM Christ, nimbate, seated facing on square-backed throne, wearing tunic and pallium, raising his right hand in benediction and holding book of Gospels in his left, rev. ΘCЄ bOHΘ RωMAҺω, Romanus III standing facing, wearing crown with pendilia and loros, holding globus cruciger in his left hand; on the right, the Virgin, nimbate, wearing robes and maphorion, crowning the emperor with her right hand, above, MΘ, 4.41g, 6h (DOC 1b. SB 1819). Good very fine.

Romanus III Argyrus, who ruled the Byzantine Empire from 1028 to 1034 AD, ascended the throne through a politically strategic marriage to Empress Zoe, the daughter of the long ruling Macedonian dynasty. Eager to legitimize his unexpected rise and project imperial strength, Romanus embarked on building projects and military campaigns, though with mixed financial and strategic success. This gold Histamenon, minted in Constantinopolis during his reign, serves as a brilliant piece of Byzantine propaganda, emphasizing divine Favor and the heavenly backing essential for a ruler who lacked direct dynastic blood ties. On the obverse of the coin, we see a majestic depiction of Jesus Christ, he is shown seated facing on a square-backed throne, wearing a tunic and pallium while raising His right hand in a gesture of benediction and holding the book of Gospels in His left. This imagery placed the spiritual authority and presence of Christ directly at the forefront of the empire's currency, reminding every citizen and trader that ultimate sovereignty belonged to God. The reverse of the coin features Romanus III standing facing the viewer, wearing a crown with hanging pendilia and an elaborate jewelled tunic known as a loros, while holding a globus cruciger. To his right stands the Virgin Mary, who places a crown upon the emperor's head with her right hand. This powerful coronation scene visually communicated that Romanus's right to rule was sanctioned directly by the Virgin Mary, offering profound legitimacy to his reign. Although Romanus III's brief tenure ended amid court intrigue and his sudden death in 1034 AD, this histamenon preserves a striking snapshot of 11th-century Byzantine ideology. It captures an emperor leaning heavily on sacred imagery to solidify his place in history.

The obverse legend +IҺS XIS RЄX RЄGNANTIҺM translates to "Jesus Christ, King of Kings."

The reverse legend ΘCЄ bOHΘ RωMAҺω MΘ translates to "Mother of God, help Romanus."