Description:
In AD 324, twelve years after legalizing Christianity, the Roman Emperor Constantine the Great transferred his capital to Byzantium, which became Constantinople "New Rome." The Byzantine Empire was the Eastern Roman Empire during the Middle Ages, centered on the capital of Constantinople and ruled by Emperors in direct succession to the ancient Roman Emperors. Although Greek was the main language spoken here, the Byzantine citizens still referred to themselves as Romans.
In the 6th century, Justinian I created the authority of the Eastern Orthodox Church, which firmly established Christianity throughout the Empire. As a cradle of Christianity, the Empire helped to shield Europe from Muslim expansion. They also preserved much of the literary works and scientific knowledge of ancient Greece, Rome and many other cultures.
This coin was minted in Constantinople during the reign of Constantine IX, who was emperor from 1042-1055. It was during the rule of Constantine in 1054, that the centuries old disagreements finally separated the Roman Catholic and Eastern Orthodox Churches. The obverse of this Byzantine coin features Jesus Christ enthroned wearing a cruciform nimbus crown, pallium and colobium. He is holding the Book of Gospels and raising his right hand in benediction. The reverse shows the inscription IS XS / bASILE / bASIL which translates to "Jesus Christ King of Kings." As this coin shows, art of the Byzantine Empire was mainly devoted to the Christian faith, which flourished for over a thousand years under their protection.