Page:Archaeological Journal, Volume 1.djvu/151

Of all the coins here engraved that of Zimisces is the finest and most interesting. This is of copper; and the superiority of that metal for decision of outline is well known to Numismatists. There is also a peculiarity of character, which distinguishes this coin from the rest. The head of Christ is on the obverse, instead of the head of the reigning emperor. Hence the Byzantine coins, not otherwise distinguished, are easily appropriated to Zimisces. Perhaps some reasons of state prevented this politic prince, though his coronation was publicly solemnized, and his reign was popular, from assuming all the external signs of his imperial office. Under his usurpation or regency of twelve years, according to Gibbon, though Zonaras and most other authors say six, Basil and Constantine had silently grown to manhood. On the 10th of January, 975-6, these youthful brothers ascended the throne of Constantinople. Their reign is designated, by the historian of the Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire, as the longest and most obscure of the Byzantine history. Yet it was during this eventful period, here so carelessly and contemptuously despatched, that those great struggles were made both in Europe and Asia, which laid the foundation of the modern dynasties both of the east and west. In subsequent chapters of the work some compensation is made for this hasty and abrupt dismissal of the subject. The entire reign of these two brothers combined together exceeded fifty-three years, of which Basil occupied fifty, dying suddenly at the age of seventy. This was the second of that name. The first Basil, who is represented on the obverse of his coins in company with his son, a youth who died at the age of thirteen, holding an elevated cross between them, is the first emperor who placed the figure of the Saviour, with His titles and attributes, on his coins, if we may trust to the series engraved in the Thesaurus Palatinus of Beger; who candidly admits, nevertheless, that Justinian the Second, called Rhinotmetus, was by some supposed to be the first; probably because his own mutilated face was unworthy of being perpetuated. The custom certainly prevailed through several reigns. There are eleven examples engraved in Beger's work; from which four have been here selected, as containing something peculiar. They all have the radiated nimbus, bounded by a circular outline, with flowing hair, generally parted over the forehead, and a slight portion of beard, except in the coin of Manuel, who came to the