914-919 AD., Constantine VII , with Zoe, Constantinopolis mint, Æ Follis, Sear BC 1758.
Constantine VII (Porphyrogenitus), with his mother Zoe, Constantinopolis mint, struck 914-919 AD.,
Æ Follis (19-25 mm / 5.66 g),
Obv.: +CONSTAhT CE ZO Hb , crowned facing busts of Constantine (left), beardless and wearing loros, and Zoe (right), draped, each wearing crown topped with cross, holding patriarchal cross between them; Zoe’s crown with pendilia.
Rev.: +COnS / TAnTInO / CE ZOH bA / SILIS RO / mEOn , in five lines across fields.
Sear BC 1758 ; DOC III 22 ; Berk 928 .
Constantine VII Porphyrogennetos or Porphyrogenitus, "the Purple-born" (Greek: Κωνσταντίνος Ζ΄ ΠοÏφυÏογÎννητος, KÅnstantinos VII PorphyrogennÄ“tos), (Constantinople, 905 – November 9, 959 in Constantinople) was the son of the Byzantine emperor Leo VI and his fourth wife Zoe Karbonopsina. He was also the nephew of the Emperor Alexander. He is famous for his two descriptive books, De Administrando Imperio and De Ceremoniis.
PorphyrogennÄ“tos or Porphyrogenitus (Greek: ΠοÏφυÏογÎννητος), literally "born in the Purple" was a title given to a son or daughter (Porphyrogenneta) of a reigning Emperor in the (Roman) Byzantine Empire.
His nickname alludes to the Purple Room of the imperial palace, decorated with the rare stone porphyry, where legitimate children of reigning emperors were normally born. Constantine was also born in this room, although his mother Zoe had not been married to Leo at that time. Nevertheless, the epithet allowed him to underline his position as the legitimized son, as opposed to all others who claimed the throne during his lifetime.