Nicephorus II Phocas (AD 963-969). AV tetarteron nomisma (20mm, 3.95 gm, 5h). NGC Choice XF 5/5 - 2/5, edge filing. Constantinople, AD 963-969. + IhS XIS RЄX' RЄϚNANTIhm, bust of Christ facing, wearing nimbus cruciger with two pellets in each arm, pallium and colobium, raising right hand in benediction, book of Gospels cradled in left arm / + ΘЄOTOC' Ь' HΘ' hICHF' dЄSP', half-length facing busts of the nimbate Virgin Mary (on left), wearing stola and maphorium, and Nicephorus II (on right), wearing loros and crown with pendilia, jointly holding patriarchal cross with pellet on shaft between them; M-Θ flanking Virgin Mary. Sear 1780. DOC 3.2, 5. Ex Classical Numismatic Group, Electronic Auction 275 (7 March 2012), lot 232; property of Princeton Economics acquired by Martin Armstrong; Spink 121 (7 October 1997), lot 547. One of the greatest generals of his age, Nicephorus Phocas led the armada that reclaimed Crete for Byzantium after 130 years of Arab rule. He followed up by annexing Cyprus and capturing Aleppo. These stupendous victories led the army, following the death of Romanus II in March AD 963, to acclaim Nicephorus as Emperor. Returning to Constantinople, he married Theophano, the widow of Romanus II, and proclaimed himself protector of her two young sons Basil II and Constantine VIII, who became subordinate Emperors. Nicephorus continued the offensive against the Caliphate, which fell back on all fronts before the disciplined Byzantine forces. Theophano, however, found him physically repulsive, remote and austere, and sought refuge in the arms of a dashing soldier, John Tzimisces. Together they plotted and carried out the murder of Nicephorus in December of AD 969. It is during this reign that the term "solidus" is replaced by "histamenon nomisma" as a name for the standard Byzantine gold coin. A second, slightly lighter denomination, the "tetarteron nomisma," was also introduced. HID09801242017 © 2023 Heritage Auctions | All Rights Reserved

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