Basil II Bulgaroktonos, with Constantine VIII, 976-1025. Histamenon nomisma (Gold, 25.5 mm, 4.36 g, 6 h), Constantinople, 989-1001. +IhS XIS REX REGNANTIhM Bust of Christ Pantocrator facing, wearing cross nimbus with five pellets in each arm, his right hand raised in blessing and holding book of Gospels in his left. Rev. +bASIL C CONStANTI b On left, crowned bust of Basil II facing, wearing chlamys; on right, crowned bust of Constantine VIII, wearing ornamented robe; holding between them a long patriarchal cross crosslet. DOC (3ff). SB 1796. A very rare variety. Cleaned and with traces of mounting, otherwise, nearly extremely fine.