★ RARE ★

ANONYMOUS FOLLES. Class G. Attributed to Romanus IV (1068-1071). Constantinople.Ae.

Obv: IC - XC.
Facing bust of Christ Pantokrator.
Rev: MHP - ΘV.
Facing bust of the Virgin Mary, orans. Arabic countermark "Lillah" Scarce counternark.
The Islamic "Lillah" countermark appears almost exclusively on Byzantine follises that depict a portrait of the Christ and almost exclusively over the face of Christ, defacing him.It almost certainly had a political/religious significance and would certainly have been taken as distasteful and possibly as blasphemous by Byzantine Christians. The choice to strike the countermark on the bust of Christ may have driven further hostility and tensions between the sovereignties who were both simultaneously utilizing the coinage.
Extremely Rare.

Condition:Good Fine.

Weight: 5.3 gr
Diameter: 24 mm