TYPE Byzantine Empire, Romanos II (959-963 AD), cast bronze of Cherson DESCRIPTION . Obv: Monogram of Romanos Rev: Cross floriate on two steps, two pellets to sides REFERENCE: SB 1775, DO 3a GRADING: VF+ / F, bit rough dark patina, scarce ORDER INFO: B2386, $65 An obscure ruler who died very young - monetarily represented virtually only by this issue - Romanos still managed to father a prince that was destined to take the Byzantine Empire to its apogee as the famous Basil II. However, in the works of Soviet scholars on the subject (Sokolova and Anokhin), this Romanos type is attributed to Romanos I (which is also hinted in Sear), while the more customary Romanos Cherson bronze ("rho"-monogram / faint cross or flat) is associated with the 11th century. This is not evident anywhere in either Sear or Dumbarton Oaks, and is based on new hoard and other archeological evidence.