BYZANTINES COINS Lot n° 144

Irene (797-802) Solidus. Constantinople, 800-802, AU 4.35 g. Obverse : ?IRINH bASILISSH. Bust of Irene facing, wearing crown and loros, holding globus cruciger and cruciform scepter. Reverse : • ?IRINH bASILISSH [circle with cross within]. Bust of Irene facing, wearing crown and loros, holding globus cruciger and cruciform scepter. Ref : DOC 1a.1, FF 2.B.1, Sear 1599. Provenance : Stack’s (pre-Feb 2011), Moneta Imperii Romani Byzantini, 12/01/2009, lot 3190. Berk sale 119, 2000, lot 94. Numismatica Genevensis sale 1, 2000, lot 194. Extremely Fine. Irene (797-802). As sole ruler, Irene became the fi rst woman to occupy the Byzantine throne. She sought to win popular support through a relaxation of taxes and generous gifting, but this unfortunately only weakened the State. During her reign, Charlemagne was crowned Emperor in 800 bringing into existence a new rival Western Empire. A palace revolution overthrew Irene in 802 and she died in exile on the island of Lesbos soon after.