Isaac II Angelus (AD 1185-1195). EL aspron trachy (29mm, 4.28 gm, 6h). NGC (photo-certificate) Choice AU 2/5 - 3/5. Constantinople. Virgin, nimbate, enthroned facing, holding nimbate head of infant Christ on lap; barred MHP (ligate)-TV across fields / ICAAKIOC, Isaac II (on left), standing facing, wearing crown with pendilia and jeweled chlamys, cruciform scepter in right hand, akakia in left, Archangel Michael (on right), standing facing, wearing nimbus cruciger and military attire, reaching up with right hand to crown Isaac with right hand, jeweled scepter in left; O in middle field between heads, X/MI in right field. Sear 2002. Flan crack at 1:00 noted for accuracy. Isaac II came to power through the Constantinople mob's overthrow of Andronicus I. Only two months into his reign, he achieved a decisive and total victory over the invading Normans of Sicily at the Battle of Demetritzes, completely driving them from Byzantine territory. It was to be the only major success of Isaac's ten-year reign. Soon after the victory against the Normans, the Bulgarians revolted after 150 years of Byzantine rule. His attempt to impede the progress of the Third Crusade proved unsuccessful and counter to Byzantine interests. Isaac was a weak administrator, and under his watch the power of the local provincial lords grew still greater at the expense of the power of Constantinople. The highly centralized Byzantine system of administration, which had ensured the empire's survival for hundreds of years and through numerous crises, was allowed to fall into permanent decay. He was overthrown and blinded by his brother Alexius in 1195, briefly returning to the throne on the eve of the Sack of Constantinople.

HID09801242017

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