TYPE Byzantine Empire, Constantine VII Porphyrogennitos (913-959 AD), cast bronze of Cherson, 4th issue (920-44) DESCRIPTION . Obv: Large KO (kappa - omega), pellet to right Rev: Cross on two steps, pellets to sides REFERENCE: SB 1770v, An 417v GRADING: AVF / F, mixed rough green-red patina, scarce, rare die ORDER INFO: B1950, $50 The cast bronzes of the Cherson mint in the Crimea have always been somewhat of a mystery, as their design, production method and denomination have appeared to be outside the mainstream Byzantine monetary system. Here the KO monogram side is from a rare cast die (even though their number was quite limited, as new ones were typically just remolded from old coins, leading to an ever so gradual shrinking of the original image): it appears unpublished in the rather exhaustive Anokhin catalog, where there is also no mention of the pellet visible here.