★ Extremely rare ★

Leo VI the Wise, 886-912. Solidus (Gold, 19 mm, 4.35 g, 7 h), Constantinople, 886-908. +MARIA+ / MHP - ΘV Nimbate bust of the Virgin Mary facing, orans, wearing pallium and maphorium. Rev. LEON EN CRISTO bASILEЧS ROMEOn Crowned bust of Leo VI facing, wearing chlamys,and tablion, holding patriarchal globus cruciger with his right hand. DOC 1b. Füeg 2. SB 1724. Extremely rare. An attractive, boldly and clearly struck example. Good very fine.

This coin has the distinction of bearing the first depiction of the Virgin Mary, Theotokos, ever to appear on a coin. What we see here is surely the Virgin of the Church of the Blachernae - the Blachernitissa - , with her arms raised in prayer ( orans ). Exactly why she should appear on Leo VI's coinage is unclear, especially since the general opinion is that this coin was issued toward the end of his reign: it may, perhaps, be a special issue to commemorate the completion of a church, begun under Basil I, dedicated to the Virgin. It would definitely be going too far to ascribe this as a thank offering for the birth of his son, the future Constantine VII, who was born of 3 September 905. The child's mother was then Leo VI's mistress, Zoe Carbonopsina, and the Patriarch refused to baptise the child unless Leo put her aside. Leo agreed, the child was baptised and then Leo not only married Zoe but made her Augusta! This resulted in quite a scandal!