★ Born in the purple' ★

Manuel I Comnenus, 1143-1180. Half Tetarteron (Bronze, 19 mm, 2.29 g, 6 h), uncertain mint, 1143-1152. Monogram of Manuel I Comnenus. Rev. Half-length bust of Manuel I Comnenus facing, wearing loros, holding cruciform scepter in his right hand and globus cruciger in his left. SB 1979. Rare. Light deposits, otherwise, about very fine.

The Π in the center of Manuel's monogram stands for πορφυρογέννητος, which literally means 'born in the purple' and refers to the fact that Manuel I was born after the accession of his father John II Comnenus to the throne of the Empire, as opposed to his three older brothers.