Byzantine Empire, Anonymous Follis, Portrait of Jesus Christ

These bronze coins of the Byzantine Empire were issued anonymously under various emperors, with the usual imperial portraits being replaced by a portrait of Jesus Christ. Collectively, these issues are known as anonymous Byzantine folles—“follis” being the denomination, with “folles” as its plural form.

Although images of Christ eventually became common on Byzantine coinage, they appeared very gradually. The earliest known depiction of Jesus on a coin dates to the reign of Justinian II (685 - 695 CE), when his portrait was introduced on a gold solidus. Bronze coinage, however, did not adopt Christ’s image until much later—nearly a millennium after the traditional date of Christ’s birth.

A major shift occurred in the late tenth century under Emperor John I Tzimisces, who reigned from 969 to 976 CE. From his reign onward, and lasting for roughly 123 years, Byzantine emperors ceased placing their own likenesses on bronze coins. Instead, these issues featured Christ alone, emphasizing the emperor’s subordinate role to divine authority.

Most of these coins depict a bearded bust of Christ framed by a cross and encircled by a halo. While the obverse design remained relatively consistent, the reverses vary in layout and inscription, with the most frequently encountered legends proclaiming either “Jesus Christ, King of Kings," or the phrase “May Jesus Christ Conquer.”

Each includes a Certificate of Authenticity.