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                                Sale: CNG 69, Lot: 1860. Closing Date: Jun 08, 
                                2005. ARTAVASDUS, with NICEPHORUS. 742-743 AD. 
                                AR Miliaresion (1.80 gm, 6h). Constantinople 
                                mint. Bidding Closed Estimate $1000 

                              ARTAVASDUS, with NICEPHORUS. 742-743 AD. AR 
                              Miliaresion (1.80 gm, 6h). Constantinople mint. 
                              Cross potent on three steps / ARTAUASDOS S 
                              NIChFOROS EC QEU bASILIS+ in six lines. DOC II 6; 
                              SB 1545. Fine, toned, light graffiti. One of the 
                              rarest miliaresia in the Byzantine series. ($1000)

                              Artavasdus the Armenian, a close associate of Leo 
                              III, assisted in the overthrow of Theodosius III, 
                              and later married Leo's daughter. When Leo died, 
                              Artavasdus rose in revolt against Leo's son and 
                              heir, Constantine V. After chasing Constantine 
                              into Asia Minor, Artavasdus ousted the iconoclast 
                              faction in Constantinople. Constantine's position 
                              in Asia was became too strong, however, and in 
                              little over a year Artavasdus and his forces were 
                              crushed in battle near Sardes. Except for a few 
                              extremely rare gold coins, Artavasdus always 
                              associated his son Nicephorus on the coinage, and 
                              was clearly intent on founding a new dynasty. 
                              Artavasdus' aspirations ended in the Hippodrome, 
                              following his defeat, where he and his son had 
                              their eyes put out.








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Lot 1860 was unsold.


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