Two figures standing, holding cross between them // Inscription in four lines. 1st line is probably the title "Despot", the third line is probably BASILEUS, the rest is uncertain. 22mm, 2.51 grams. cf. Zeno 261972

Pierced

This fascinating type seems to be unpublished. A few such coins are known, all seem to be found in modern Georgia in the Caucuses. The coin seems to imitated the folli of the Byzantine Emperor Constantine X (1059-1067), with the obverse derived from the SB 1853 and the reverse from the ISXS bASILE bASIL inscriptions found on many 11th century Byzantine folli. Alternatively, a similar type, but with an arabic inscription on the reverse was minted by the ruler  ‘Izz al-Din Salduq b. ‘Ali, 523-563 AH (1028-1067 CE) of the Salduqid dynasty. This coin is sometimes given to Salduq, but it is more likely that this is a local Christian issue, minted by some local Georgian Christian ruler, meant to resemble the islamic issues of Salduq familiar to the locals.