MANUEL I, Comnenus 1143AD Rare Authentic Ancient BYZANTINE Coin CROSS i17766

Description

Item:
i17766
Authentic Ancient Roman Coin of:
Byzantine - Manuel I , Comnenus - Emperor: 8 April 1143 - 24 September 1180 A.D. -
Bronze Tetarteron 20mm (3.13 grams) Struck at the mint of Thessalonica circa 1143-1180 A.D.
Reference: Sear 1976
MANγHΛ ΔЄCΠΟΤH, Half-length figure of Manuel facing, wearing crown and loros, and holding labarum and globe cross.
Cross, with X at center, standing on three steps; to left, IC; to right, XC.
You are bidding on the exact item pictured, provided with a Certificate of Authenticity and Lifetime Guarantee of Authenticity.
The
Chi Rho
is one of the earliest
christograms
used by Christians. It is formed by superimposing the first two letters in the Greek spelling of the word
Christ
(
Greek
: "Χριστός" ), chi = ch and rho = r, in such a way to produce the
monogram
☧
. The Chi-Rho symbol was also used by pagan Greek scribes to mark, in the margin, a particularly valuable or relevant passage; the combined letters Chi and Rho standing for
chrēston,
meaning "good."
Although not technically a cross, the Chi Rho invokes the crucifixion of Jesus as well as symbolizing his status as the Christ. There is early evidence of the Chi Rho symbol on Christian Rings of the third century.
The
labarum
(
Greek
:
λάβαρον
) was a
vexillum
(military standard) that displayed the "
Chi-Rho
" symbol, formed from the first two
Greek letters
of the word "
Christ
" (
Greek
:
ΧΡΙΣΤΟΣ
, or Χριστός) —
Chi
(
χ
) and
Rho
(
ρ
). It was first used by the
Roman emperor
Constantine I
. Since the vexillum consisted of a flag suspended from the crossbar of a cross, it was ideally suited to symbolize
crucifixion
. The Chi-Rho symbol was also used by Greek scribes to mark, in the margin, a particularly valuable or relevant passage; the combined letters Chi and Rho standing for
chrēston,
meaning "good."
Manuel I Komnenos
, or
Comnenus
(
Greek
:
Μανουήλ Α' Κομνηνός
,
Manouēl I Komnēnos
,
November 28
,
1118
–
September 24
,
1180
) was a
Byzantine Emperor
of the 12th century who reigned over a crucial turning point in the history of
Byzantium
and the
Mediterranean
. Eager to restore his
empire
to its past glories as the superpower of the Mediterranean world, Manuel pursued an energetic and ambitious foreign policy. In the process he made alliances with the
Pope
and the resurgent west, invaded
Italy
, successfully handled the passage of the dangerous
Second Crusade
through his empire, and established a Byzantine protectorate over the
Crusader kingdoms
of
Outremer
. Facing
Muslim
advances in the
Holy Land
, he made common cause with the
Kingdom of Jerusalem
and participated in a combined invasion of
Fatimid
Egypt
. Manuel reshaped the political maps of the
Balkans
and the east Mediterranean, placing the kingdoms of
Hungary
and Outremer under Byzantine
hegemony
and campaigning aggressively against his neighbours both in the west and in the east. However, towards the end of his reign Manuel's achievements in the east were compromised by a serious defeat at
Myriokephalon
, which in large part resulted from his arrogance in attacking a well-defended
Seljuk
position.
Called
ho Megas
(
Greek
:
ὁ Μέγας
, translated as "
the Great
") by the
Greeks
, Manuel is known to have inspired intense loyalty in those who served him. He also appears as the hero of a history written by his secretary,
John Kinnamos
, in which every virtue is attributed to him. Manuel, who was influenced by his contact with western Crusaders, enjoyed the reputation of "the most blessed emperor of
Constantinople
" in parts of the
Latin
world as well.
[1]
Modern historians, however, have been less enthusiastic about him. Some of them assert that the great power he wielded was not his own personal achievement, but that of the
dynasty
he represented; they also argue that, since Byzantine imperial power declined so rapidly after Manuel's death, it is only natural to look for the causes of this decline in his reign.
Frequently Asked Questions
How long until my order is shipped?:
Depending on the volume of sales, it may take up to 5 business days for shipment of your order after the receipt of payment.
How will I know when the order was shipped?:
After your order has shipped, you will be left positive feedback, and that date should be used as a basis of estimating an arrival date.
After you shipped the order, how long will the mail take?
USPS First Class mail takes about 3-5 business days to arrive in the U.S., international shipping times cannot be estimated as they vary from country to country. I am not responsible for any USPS delivery delays, especially for an international package.
What is a certificate of authenticity and what guarantees do you give that the item is authentic?
Each of the items sold here, is provided with a Certificate of Authenticity, and a Lifetime Guarantee of Authenticity, issued by a world-renowned numismatic and antique expert that has identified over 10000 ancient coins and has provided them with the same guarantee. You will be quite happy with what you get with the COA; a professional presentation of the coin, with all of the relevant information and a picture of the coin you saw in the listing.
Compared to other certification companies, the certificate of authenticity is a -50 value. So buy a coin today and own a piece of history, guaranteed.
Is there a money back guarantee?
I offer a 30 day unconditional money back guarantee. I stand behind my coins and would be willing to exchange your order for either store credit towards other coins, or refund, minus shipping expenses, within 30 days from the receipt of your order. My goal is to have the returning customers for a lifetime, and I am so sure in my coins, their authenticity, numismatic value and beauty, I can offer such a guarantee.
Is there a number I can call you with questions about my order?
You can contact me directly via ask seller a question and request my telephone number, or go to my About Me Page to get my contact information only in regards to items purchased on eBay.
When should I leave feedback?
Once you receive your order, please leave a positive. Please don't leave any negative feedbacks, as it happens many times that people rush to leave feedback before letting sufficient time for the order to arrive. Also, if you sent an email, make sure to check for my reply in your messages before claiming that you didn't receive a response. The matter of fact is that any issues can be resolved, as reputation is most important to me. My goal is to provide superior products and quality of service.