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Histamenon Nomisma - Michael IV Saint Michael reverse
| Issuer | Byzantine Empire (Byzantine states) |
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| Year | 1034-1042 |
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| Currency | Second Solidus Nomisma (720-1092) |
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| Obverse description | Facing enthroned figure of Christ Pantokrator, nimbate with cross behind the head, seated on a jewelled throne, holding the Book of Gospels in the left hand while the right hand is raised in benediction. The figure is depicted in full frontal hieratic style characteristic of middle Byzantine coinage. A Greek legend surrounds the field identifying Christ as King of Kings. |
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| Obverse lettering | + IҺS XIS RЄX RЄςNANTIҺM (Translation: Jesus Christ, King of Kings.) |
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| Additional information |
Michael IV the Paphlagonian came to power through his brother John the Orphanotrophos, who engineered his marriage to Empress Zoë after the death of Romanos III — a death widely suspected to be murder, with Michael himself implicated. Despite his origins as a money-changer's son, Michael proved a capable if sickly ruler, suffering from severe epilepsy throughout his reign. His coins were struck to the still-reliable nomisma standard before the catastrophic debasements that would hollow out Byzantine gold in the following decades.