Gold nomisma (hyperpyron) thumbnail 1
Gold nomisma (hyperpyron) thumbnail 2
Image of Gallery in South Kensington
On display at V&A South Kensington
Medieval & Renaissance, Room 8, The William and Eileen Ruddock Gallery

Gold nomisma (hyperpyron)

Coin (Nomismata)
1118-ca. 1122 (made)
Artist/Maker
Place of origin

The Emperor John II Comnenos extended the trading rights of the Venetians and Genoans in Constantinople, and vigorously pursued military campaigns againts the Seljuk Turks, the Hungarian kingdom, the Serbs and the Normans in Sicily.

His coinage continued the new denominations instituted by his father, Alexius I. The presence of Christ on the obverse of this coin, and the fact that the Emperor appears on the reverse standing next to the Virgin Mary, both of them supporting a crucifix, emphasises in the clearest possible way the legitimacy and semi-divine nature of John II's rule.


Object details

Categories
Object type
TitleGold nomisma (hyperpyron) (generic title)
Materials and techniques
Gold, struck
Brief description
Coin, gold scyphate hyperpyron, The Emperor John II Comnenus, Constantinople, ca. 1118-1143
Physical description
On the obverse, the bearded Christ sits on a throne. He raises his right hand in a blessing gesture, and holds a book in his left hand. He has a cross nimbus. The border consists of a double row of dots.

On the reverse, the emperor John II stands facing outwards, next to the Virgin. Between them, they hold a cross. Above, the hand of God crowns John. John wears a crown surmounted by a cross, jewelled robe and mantle. The Virgin wears a veil, tunic and mantle. Her left hand is raised in a blessing gesture.
Dimensions
  • Height: 2.7cm
  • Width: 3.1cm
  • Depth: 0.2cm
Measured for the Medieval and Renaissance Galleries 2006. The size has not been expressed as a diameter, as the coin is irregularly shaped.
Marks and inscriptions
  • 'IC XC'
    Translation
    Jesus Christ
  • '+ Iv DECPOTHC'
    Translation
    Lord John
  • QV MP (The first inscription is on the obverse, the latter two on the reverse.)
    Translation
    Mother of God
Credit line
Bequeathed by Miss Bessie Casson
Object history
Nothing is known of the history of this piece before it was bequeathed to the museum by a collector.

Historical significance: The presence of Christ on the obverse of this coin, and the fact that the Emperor appears on the reverse standing next to the Virgin Mary, both of them supporting a crucifix, emphasises in the clearest possible way the legitimacy and semi-divine nature of John II's rule.
Historical context
The Emperor John II Comnenos was the son of Alexius I, and carried on many of his father's policies. He extended the trading rights of the Venetians and Genoans in Constantinople, and vigorously pursued military campaigns againts the Seljuk Turks, the Hungarian kingdom, the Serbs and the Normans in Sicily.

His coinage continued the new denominations instituted by his father. The design of this, John's first issue of a hyperpyron, differs from his father's in showing him with the Virgin Mary.
Production
This hyperpyron follows the design of John II's first coinage.
Subjects depicted
Summary
The Emperor John II Comnenos extended the trading rights of the Venetians and Genoans in Constantinople, and vigorously pursued military campaigns againts the Seljuk Turks, the Hungarian kingdom, the Serbs and the Normans in Sicily.

His coinage continued the new denominations instituted by his father, Alexius I. The presence of Christ on the obverse of this coin, and the fact that the Emperor appears on the reverse standing next to the Virgin Mary, both of them supporting a crucifix, emphasises in the clearest possible way the legitimacy and semi-divine nature of John II's rule.
Collection
Accession number
A.11-1960

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Record createdNovember 8, 2005
Record URL
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