TYPE Byzantine Empire, Theofilos (829-842 AD), bronze half follis, Constantinople mint
DESCRIPTION .
Obv: Facing bust of Theofilos, wearing crown and loros, with labarum and orb, Greek legend ThEOFIL BASIL'
Rev: 4-line legend: ThEOFILE AVGUSTE SU NICAS ("Emperor Theofilos, may you conquer")
REFERENCE: SB 1667, DO 15a
GRADING: AEF / VF+, chocolate brown patina, light roughness
ORDER INFO: B3038, $100
A somewhat unusual - not standardly pious - reverse legend, specific to this emperor. It might be a reflection of his devout iconoclasm (religious rejection of icons), and the struggle with internal opponents in which he was the last leading exponent of this once powerful doctrinary position. A sharp and very nbice example.