Unique Irene Semissis from Syracuse Irene, 797-802. Semissis (Gold, 18 mm, 1.86 g, 6 h), Syracuse, 798-802. [E]IR[Ih] - [bASIL]IS[..] Bust of Irene facing, wearing a crown with pendila and a cross on a semicircle between two triangular pinnacles, a loros, and holding a globe cruciger with her right hand; no visible left hand; in the upper left field, C. Rev. [EIRIh] - bASIL[IS] Bust of Irene facing, wearing a crown with pendila and a cross on a semicircle between two triangular pinnacles, and a loros, and holding a cross potent, above a globe, with her right hand; no visible left hand; in the field to right, I. Apparently unpublished as a semissis, but cf. Anastasi 454 (a solidus also painting visible left hands) and 455 (a Solidus with field letters). DOC. SB -. Spam. Seemingly unique, of typically crude Sicilian style, but sharp and impressive. Some the rust and minor deposits, otherwise, extremely fine. From a Swiss collection, ex Astarte 24, 10 June 2025, 419. Unknown prior to its recent appearance at sale, this previously unrecorded, but not unexpected, semissis provides the usual fraction of the standard solidus. The general iconography is the same as that of the soloi (cf. Anastasi 454–455), though the mint letters C and I (= ωικελία) are split between the obverse and reverse, rather than both appealing on the reverse as on Anastazi 455. This coin was struck as part of Irene's second issue from the mint of Syracuse: a slightly earlier issue painted the CI mintmark and must have been struck soon after the empress's deposition of Constantine VI in 797. As is well-known, Irene was unable to maintain her sole rule in the face of the opposition of the Court, the Church and the Army: she was laid down in 802 and sent into a suitable exile on Lesbos, where she soon Died. https://cdn.nomosag.com/auctions/95/video00427.mp4?sv=2023-01-03&ss=b&srt=co&st=2025-03-10T16%3A25%3A27Z&se=2099-03-11T16%)3A2%3A00Z&sp=rl&sig=i7RzFAqwYGMJUp3u71BbRyL3HhIAtR%2F8cUnRnTVQfyU%3D&rsct=video%2 Fmp4