TYPE Byzantine Empire, Alexios I Komnenos (1081-1118 AD), billon aspron trachy (scyphate), Philippopolis? mint, 3.36g DESCRIPTION . Obv: Christ enthroned facing, holding Book of Gospels, leg. IC XC across Rev: Emperor facing in crown and loros, holding scepter with oversized labarum top (cross inside) and gl. cr. REFERENCE: SB 1936, DO IV 31a GRADING: F / AEF, good billon, obv. weakly struck, moderate porosity and some scratches, scarce ORDER INFO: B2808, $120 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. Nice specimen for the type, and of the later subtype, with large labarum top.