TYPE Byzantine Empire, Alexios I Komnenos (1081-1118 AD), billon aspron trachy (scyphate), Philippopolis? mint, 3.95g DESCRIPTION . Obv: Christ enthroned facing, holding Book of Gospels, leg. IC XC across, +KE VOITH - ALEXI Rev: Emperor facing in crown and loros, holding labarum and gl.cr., Greek legend DESPOTE - TO KOMNEN REFERENCE: SB 1936, DO IV 31b GRADING: F+ / VF, good billon, obv. bit double-struck, slightly poroity, scarce ORDER INFO: B2294, $115 A scarce and interesting issue, deemed to be of "provincial origin" based on non-standard style, fabric and other features; the actual mint is usually conjectured as Philippopolis (seat of the theme of Macedonia; based on hoard data), though there are some arguments in favor of Adrianople (seat of the theme of Thrace). Falling outside the post-reform norm among the rest is the metal, as here the nominal billon far more resembles rather decent base silver; likewise, the legend apparently continues from the obverse to reverse, with the emperor's name unusually spelled out around Christ's image (see D. Oaks IV for a good discussion on all preceding). Nice specimen for the type, and of the earlier subtype, with neat and proportional emperor image.