★ An extremely rare variety ★

Manuel I Comnenus, 1143-1180. Aspron Trachy (Electrum, 32 mm, 4.21 g, 6 h), Constantinopolis, circa 1160-1164. IC - XC Christ, nimbate, standing facing on dais, holding book of Gospels in his left hand; in field to left and right, star. Rev. MANOVHΛ - O / ΘE/OΔ/Ⲱ/PO/C Manuel, bearded, on the left, holding hilt of sword with his right hand, and St. Theodore, bearded and nimbate, on the right, holding hilt of sword with his left, standing facing, holding between them patriarchal cross set on globus; in field between emperor and cross, pellet. DOC 4d var. (no pellet). Gitbud & Naumann 31 (2015), 785 ( same reverse die ). SB 1959 var. (no pellet). An extremely rare variety. Minor doubling, otherwise, good extremely fine.

From the Nea Rhomē Collection, formed in the early 2000s, Leu Web Auction 24, 3-6 December 2022, 747.