Michael VI Stratioticus, 1056 - 1057. Histamenon nomisma 1056-1057, AV 4.45 g. + IhS XIS ReX ReGNANTIhm Facing bust of Christ, nimbus with one pellet in each limb, wearing pallium and colobium, raising r. hand in blessing and holding Book of Gospels in l. Rev. mIXA - HLAY - tOCRAt Standing figures of Michael VI, l., wearing crown and jewelled chlamys, holding globus cruciger, blessed by Virgin, r., wearing pallium and maphorion, between their heads, MΘ. DO 1b. Sear 1840.
Extremely rare. In exceptional condition for the issue,
an insignificant area of weakness on obverse,
otherwise good extremely fine

The year long reign of Michael VI is a lesson in poor judgment in emperor selection. As his surname Stratioticus "the warlike" suggests, he at one time must have been a formidable soldier, but by the time he became emperor he was no more than an elderly and incompetent palace official. He inherited the purple from Theodora, the last ruling member of the venerable Macedonian House, when her death was imminent. Michael was proclaimed on August 31, 1056, and though he apparently made a good faith attempt to bridge the gap between Constantinople and the West, he is chiefly remembered for his failure to properly handle the interests of high military officials in Asia Minor, which caused a rebellion in the summer of 1057. The uprising was led by Isaac Comnenus, a wealthy member of the Comneni who was proclaimed emperor in June. Michael initially offered to accept the lesser office of Caesar and to promise that the succession would fall to Isaac, but his ability to negotiate faded quickly, and he was forced to abdicate on August 30. Isaac entered the capital late on the 31st and was crowned the following day in St. Sophia, with Michael taking up the monastic life and dying not long afterward. Michael's gold coins bear the title autocrator, which seldom appears on coins of this era. Not only does it help distinguish his coins from those of Michael IV and Michael V, but it may signify the fact that unlike his two predecessors who bore that name, this Michael ruled without having to share power with a woman of the Macedonian dynasty.