Theophilus

829-842

The last of the Byzantine iconoclasts was widely admired throughout his dominions as a wise and just ruler. On political matters he chose a path of moderation, humility and a degree of tolerance for the minority viewpoint. As an iconoclast his own religious beliefs were more aligned with eastern mysticism and Islamic influences but did his best to not let it color his dealings with Constantinople's theocratic brass.

More importantly, he would spend his reign in uneasy periods of war and detente with the Islamic forces to the east. Luckily for him, there was at the time comparatively little trouble over on the other side of the map with the Bulgars, Slavs and the various other ethnic hotspots of the region.

He died of natural causes after a relatively lengthy reign of eight years as co-emperor with his father and then another twelve alone.

AU Solidus


SB 1653, DOC III 3b AU Solidus Obv: θOFILOSbASIL'L - Crowned bust, holding patriarchal cross and akakia.
Rev: +MIXAHLSCONSANIh' - Facing busts of Michael II and Constantine; cross between their heads. 830-840 (Constantinople).


SB 1655, DOC III 1a AU Solidus Obv: θOFILOSbΛSILI - Crowned bust, holding patriarchal cross and akakia.
Rev: CVRIbOHθHOSOOVLO - Patriarchal cross on three steps. 829-830 (Constantinople).


SB 1670, DOC III 24 AU Solidus Obv: θOFILOS - Crowned bust facing, wearing loros and holding cross potent.
Rev: θOFILOS - Crowned bust facing, wearing chlamys and holding globus cruciger. 831-842 (Syracuse).


SB 1671, DOC III 18 AU Solidus Obv: θOFILOSbASIL - Crowned bust facing, wearing chlamys and holding cross potent.
Rev: θOFILOS - As obverse but wearing loros and holding globus cruciger. (Syracuse). $360 1/16/02.


SB 1672, DOC III 22, BN 5 AU Solidus Obv: θOFILOS - Crowned bust facing holding patriarchal cross on globe.
Rev: COnSTAnTI - Crowned bust of Cosntantine facing, wearing chlamys and holding globus cruciger. 831-842 (Syracuse).


SB 1684 AU Solidus Obv: θEOPHILOSbASIL - Bust facing, with short beard, wearing crown and loros and holding globus cruciger and cruciform scepter.
Rev: CVRIEbOHθHTOsOVLOE - Patriarchal cross on three steps sided by crescent. c.829-831 (Naples?).


SB 1684v AU Solidus Obv: θEOFILOSbASIL - Crowned, facing bust, holding globus cruciger and cruciform scepter.
Rev: CVRIEbOHθHOsOCOVLO - Patriarchal cross on three steps; star on either side. 829-830 (Naples).


SB 1819, DOC III 1d AU Solidus Obv: θOFIrOSASILθ - Crowned bust of Theophilus facing holding patriarchal cross and akakia.
Rev: +MILxAHLZCONStAhIN - Michael II (820-829) and Constantine, son of Theophilus (829-831) facing, crowned and a cross above the two in the upper center field. 831-842 (Constantinople). $370 9/13/02.

AU Semissis


SB 1673, DOC III 26a AU Semissis Obv: θOFILO - Crowned facing bust, wearing loros and holding globus cruciger.
Rev: θOFILO - Crowned facing bust, wearing chlamys and holding globus cruciger. 831-842 (Syracuse). $325 5/22/02.


SB 1674, DOC III 26c AU Semissis Obv: θOFIΛO - Crowned facing bust, wearing loros and holding globus cruciger.
Rev: θOFIΛO - Crowned facing bust, wearing chlamys and holding globus cruciger. [This sample from debased gold]. (Syracuse). $220 4/1/01.

AU Tremissis


SB 1678, DOC III 27a, BN 13 AU Tremissis Obv: θOFILOS - Crowned bust facing, wearing chlamys and holding globus cruciger.
Rev: θOFILOS - Crowned bust facing, wearing loros and holding cross potent. 831-842 (Syracuse).


SB 1679, DOC III 20 AU Tremissis Obv: θOFILOSbA - Crowned bust facing, wearing chlamys and holding globus cruciger.
Rev: θOFILOS - Crowned bust facing, wearing loros and holding cross potent. 829-830 (Syracuse).

AR Miliaresion


SB 1661, DOC III 10 AR Miliaresion Obv: IhSUSXRISTUSnICA - Cross potent on steps.
Rev: +θEOFI/LOSdULOS/XRISTUSPIS/TOSENAVTO/BASILEURO/MAION - Legend in six lines. 830-838 (Constantinople). $1,100 1/16/02.


SB 1664, DOC III 12 AR Miliaresion Obv: IhSSXRISShICA - Cross potent on steps.
Rev: +θEO/FILOSSMI/XAHLCθ/bASILISRO/MAION - Legend in six lines. 840-842 (Constantinople).

AE Follis


SB 1680, DOC III 29 Follis Obv: Facing bust of Theophilus, wearing loros and holding cross.
Rev: Facing busts of Michael and Constantine, star between heads. 830-842 (Syracuse).


SB 1681, DOC III 30 Follis Obv: θOFILOSbASI - Crowned and draped bust facing, holding globus cruciger.
Rev: Large M; cross above, XXX left, NNN right. 830-842 (Syracuse). $95 11/10/04.

AE Half Follis


SB 1668, DOC III 16 Half Follis Obv: QEOFIbASIL' - Theophilus standing facing, holding labarum and globus cruciger; cross in right field.
Rev: +θEO/FILEAVg/OVSTESV/hICAS. 829-842 (Constantinople).