Solidus - Michael II

Michael II came to power by having his predecessor Leo V murdered at the altar of the Hagia Sophia on Christmas morning, 820. His reign was immediately consumed by the revolt of Thomas the Slav, a massive uprising backed by the Abbasid caliph that drew support from nearly every theme in Anatolia and besieged Constantinople for over a year. That the mint continued producing solidi through this crisis is itself notable — fiscal credibility depended on uninterrupted gold coinage even when the capital was encircled.

The DOC distinguishes at least two obverse die groupings within this type, reflecting production across the full seven-year reign rather than a single concentrated issue.