LEO V and CONSTANTINE. 813-820 AD. AV Solidus (4.40 gm). Constantinople 
      mint. . LE-On bASILEU', crowned facing bust of Leo, holding cross potent 
      and akakia / COnST-AnT' dESP' X (cut over E), crowned facing bust of 
      Constantine, holding globus cruciger and akakia. DOC III 2b; BN 1-2; SB 
      1627. EF ($2500) From the Jürgen K. Schmidt Collection. Ex Leu Numismatik 
      Auktion 77 (11-12 May 2000), lot 856. Leo, son of Bardas, was of certain 
      Armenian extraction, and was commander of Byzantine forces in Armenia when 
      the rout of Michael I at Versinikia led to his acclamation as emperor. The 
      desertion of troops loyal to Leo lead to Michael's defeat by the 
      Bulgarians. Leo's reign was characterized not by military activity, but by 
      religious controversy brought on by his vehement iconoclastic views. His 
      opponents committed the ultimate sacrilegious act of assassinating him in 
      Hagia Sophia on Christmas Day, 820. His godson Theophilus would avenge his 
      murder after his accession in 829, even though the conspirators had been 
      associates of his father Michael II.


Triton V Sale, 16 Jan 2002, lot 2291.
 
 Lot sold for $1760, plus buyers fees.

By permission of CNG, www.cngcoins.com.