TYPE Byzantine Empire, Leo III Isaurian (717-741 AD), silver miliaresion DESCRIPTION . Obv: Cross potent on three steps, Greco-Latin legend IISUS HRISTUS NIKA around Rev: Greek legend (partially with Latin letters) LEO S CONSTANTINE EK THEU BASILIS in 5 lines, all within triple border. REFERENCE: SB 1512, DO 22 GRADING: AVF / VF, strike crack, toned, scarce ORDER INFO: B2959, $140 A fine specimen of this earliest type of the new coin that was destined to be the standard silver for more than the next three centuries. Borrowing from the old Roman miliarense denomination and replacing the Heraclean hexagram, the miliaresion was characterized by thin fabric, a large cross devoid (at least in the beginning) of any effigies, and a variable pious legend on the reverse.