Coins for the collector from a collector:
                   A. Caldarone, Classical Numistmatist,
                             proudly presents:
                      Billon Trachy of Manual

    * Byzantine Empire
    * Manual
    * 1143-1180                                 Attribution
    * Constantinople Mint
    * Billon Aspron Trachy                         * SB 1962
    * 3.75g
    * Lot sold for $7.38 9/16/02
 Obv: Jesus facing, beardless,wearing nimbus. "IC-X[C]"

 Rev: Manual wearing chlamys, holding laborum and globe with cross.
 This dynamic emperor was highly influanced by western culture. The
 west greatly concerned Manual with the crusaders flocking to the
 region. Many of these crusaders would have been just as interested
 in taking Constantinople as fighting the Muslims. The crusade was
 a failure but opened a hole for Roger II of Sicily to plunder
 parts of Greece. In 1155, Manual invaded Italy. The Byzantine
 empire had not had any posessions in Italy since 1071. The
 city-states of Northern Italy repelled the invasion. In the east
 and the Balkans he was more successful. But in 1176, Manual's was
 badly beaten by the Sulan of Iconium. This left Manual a broken
 man and quietly lived out his last four years.