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Up for auction is a Byzantine Trachy coin of Alexius III from 1194-1204 AD.
ID# 722h(UK)
Diameter: 25mm
MINT: Constantinople
OBVERSE; IC XC KE ROHΘEI
- Facing bust of Christ.
REVERSE; AΛEΣIω ΔECΠ Θ KωNcTANTI
- Alexius on left, and St. Constantine on right, both standing, holding globus cruciger between them.
Reference: Sear 2012
Alexius III
1195-1203
Alexius III was the brother of Isaac II whom he had deposed and blinded in a plot. If Isaac was unpopular then Alexius turned out to be even more so. He continued a policy of pilfering his own people for his personal benefit and couldn't care less what troubles were brewing outside so long as his own life of luxury was guaranteed.
As the Franks and Venetians who made up the bulk of the Fourth Crusade set their sights squarely on Constantinople he did not even give orders to fortify the defensive positions of the city or store any provisions in case of a siege. When at last the Crusade did arrive he panicked on account of their strength and, on news that a puppet had been selected to replace him, fled to the countryside with all his women, jewels and the tidy sum of 10,000 pounds of gold.
The shipping is $3 and consists of a bubble wrap lined envelope through International Air .
If the actual price is less than that charged, i will refund the balance.