Manuel I Comnenus, Constantinople, Billon Aspron Trachy

IC XC, Christ bearded and nimbate, seated upon throne 
without back: holds Gospels in left hand. Dot in each limb 
of nimbus cross. No stars.
MANUHL DECPO, The Virgin on right blessing Manuel on left,
both standing facing; Manuel holding labarum and cross on 
globe; MP above Marys outstretched hand, Theta V to the 
right of Mary. One jewel on emperor's loros between waist 
and collar piece. Loros waist has 5 pellets in a diagonal 
cross arrangement, collar piece has 3 jewels, the central 
one is square. The central pellet of the waistband and the 
single jewel between collar and waist are also square.

Sear 1966; Dumbarton Oaks IV 13.d.

The striking of the right side of this coin has left Mary appearing to be floating. Some sections of the centre of the coin (such as the globus cruciger) are clearly double struck.

Contributed by Russell Stanley, May 2011