{"meta":{"version":"2.1","_links":{"self":{"href":"https://api.vam.ac.uk/v2/object/O118316"},"collection_page":{"href":"https://collections.vam.ac.uk/item/O118316/"}},"images":{"_primary_thumbnail":"https://framemark.vam.ac.uk/collections/2009CC5559/full/!100,100/0/default.jpg","_iiif_image":"https://framemark.vam.ac.uk/collections/2009CC5559/","_alt_iiif_image":[],"imageResolution":"high","_images_meta":[{"assetRef":"2009CC5559","copyright":"© Victoria and Albert Museum, London","sensitiveImage":false},{"assetRef":"2009CC5560","copyright":"© Victoria and Albert Museum, London","sensitiveImage":false},{"assetRef":"2018KY9226","copyright":"© Victoria and Albert Museum, London","sensitiveImage":false}]},"see_also":{"_iiif_pres":"https://iiif.vam.ac.uk/collections/O118316/manifest.json","_alt_iiif_pres":[]}},"record":{"systemNumber":"O118316","accessionNumber":"A.11-1960","objectType":"Coin (nomismata)","titles":[{"title":"Gold nomisma (hyperpyron)","type":"generic title"}],"summaryDescription":"The Emperor John II Comnenos extended the trading rights of the Venetians and Genoans in Constantinople, and vigorously pursued military campaigns againts the Seljuk Turks, the Hungarian kingdom, the Serbs and the Normans in Sicily.\r\n\r\nHis coinage continued the new denominations instituted by his father, Alexius I. The presence of Christ on the obverse of this coin, and the fact that the Emperor appears on the reverse standing next to the Virgin Mary, both of them supporting a crucifix, emphasises in the clearest possible way the legitimacy and semi-divine nature of John II's rule.","physicalDescription":"On the obverse, the bearded Christ sits on a throne. He raises his right hand in a blessing gesture, and holds a book in his left hand. He has a cross nimbus. The border consists of a double row of dots.\r\n\r\nOn the reverse, the emperor John II stands facing outwards, next to the Virgin. Between them, they hold a cross. Above, the hand of God crowns John. John wears a crown surmounted by a cross, jewelled robe and mantle. The Virgin wears a veil, tunic and mantle. Her left hand is raised in a blessing gesture.","artistMakerPerson":[{"name":{"text":"Unknown","id":"A1848"},"association":{"text":"","id":""},"note":""}],"artistMakerOrganisations":[],"artistMakerPeople":[],"materials":[{"text":"gold","id":"AAT11021"}],"techniques":[{"text":"striking (metal-working)","id":"AAT206846"}],"materialsAndTechniques":"Gold, struck","categories":[{"text":"Coins & Medals","id":"THES48974"},{"text":"Sculpture","id":"THES48896"}],"styles":[],"collectionCode":{"text":"SCP","id":"THES48600"},"images":["2009CC5559","2009CC5560","2018KY9226"],"imageResolution":"high","galleryLocations":[{"current":{"text":"8 (VA)","id":"THES49714"},"free":"","case":"CA8","shelf":"","box":""}],"partTypes":[[{"text":"Coin (nomismata)","id":""}]],"contentWarnings":[{"apprise":"","note":""}],"placesOfOrigin":[{"place":{"text":"Istanbul (City)","id":"x33871"},"association":{"text":"made","id":"x28654"},"note":""}],"productionDates":[{"date":{"text":"1118-ca. 1122","earliest":"1117-01-01","latest":"1126-12-31"},"association":{"text":"made","id":"x28654"},"note":""}],"associatedObjects":[],"creditLine":"Bequeathed by Miss Bessie Casson","dimensions":[{"dimension":"Height","value":"2.7","unit":"cm","qualifier":"","date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"part":"","note":""},{"dimension":"Width","value":"3.1","unit":"cm","qualifier":"","date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"part":"","note":""},{"dimension":"Depth","value":"0.2","unit":"cm","qualifier":"","date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"part":"","note":""}],"dimensionsNote":"Measured for the Medieval and Renaissance Galleries 2006. The size has not been expressed as a diameter, as the coin is irregularly shaped.","marksAndInscriptions":[{"content":"'IC XC'","inscriber":{"name":{"text":"","id":""},"association":{"text":"","id":""}},"date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"description":"","interpretation":"","language":"","medium":"","method":"","position":"","script":"","translation":"Jesus Christ","transliteration":"","type":"","note":""},{"content":"'+ Iv DECPOTHC'","inscriber":{"name":{"text":"","id":""},"association":{"text":"","id":""}},"date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"description":"","interpretation":"","language":"","medium":"","method":"","position":"","script":"","translation":"Lord John","transliteration":"","type":"","note":""},{"content":"QV MP","inscriber":{"name":{"text":"","id":""},"association":{"text":"","id":""}},"date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"description":"","interpretation":"","language":"","medium":"","method":"","position":"","script":"","translation":"Mother of God","transliteration":"","type":"","note":"The first inscription is on the obverse, the latter two on the reverse."}],"objectHistory":"Nothing is known of the history of this piece before it was bequeathed to the museum by a collector.\n\nHistorical significance: The presence of Christ on the obverse of this coin, and the fact that the Emperor appears on the reverse standing next to the Virgin Mary, both of them supporting a crucifix, emphasises in the clearest possible way the legitimacy and semi-divine nature of John II's rule.","historicalContext":"The Emperor John II Comnenos was the son of Alexius I, and carried on many of his father's policies. He extended the trading rights of the Venetians and Genoans in Constantinople, and vigorously pursued military campaigns againts the Seljuk Turks, the Hungarian kingdom, the Serbs and the Normans in Sicily.\r\n\r\nHis coinage continued the new denominations instituted by his father. The design of this, John's first issue of a hyperpyron, differs from his father's in showing him with the Virgin Mary.","briefDescription":"Coin, gold scyphate hyperpyron, The Emperor John II Comnenus, Constantinople, ca. 1118-1143","bibliographicReferences":[],"production":"This hyperpyron follows the design of John II's first coinage.","productionType":{"text":"","id":""},"contentDescription":"","contentPlaces":[],"associatedPlaces":[],"contentPerson":[{"text":"Jesus Christ","id":"N1515"},{"text":"The Virgin Mary","id":"N480"},{"text":"Comnenos, John II (Emperor)","id":"N4752"}],"associatedPerson":[],"contentOrganisations":[],"associatedOrganisations":[],"contentPeople":[],"associatedPeople":[],"contentEvents":[],"associatedEvents":[],"contentOthers":[],"contentConcepts":[],"contentLiteraryRefs":[],"galleryLabels":[],"partNumbers":["A.11-1960"],"accessionNumberNum":"11","accessionNumberPrefix":"A","accessionYear":1960,"otherNumbers":[],"copyNumber":"","aspects":["WHOLE"],"assets":["2019LN9768","2019LT4920","2019LU1353","2020MP0127"],"recordModificationDate":"2025-04-08","recordCreationDate":"2005-11-08","availableToBook":false}}