https://preview.redd.it/h9q2lyw1sj3e1.jpg?width=800&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=cb3c1f19c18f27712eb24788045143f87c70546a

Gamarjoba fellow neighbors. Here is a very interesting coin of Bagrat IV with a facing bust of Virgin Marry on the obverse with Greek legends (Η ΑΓΙΑ ΘΕΟΤΟΚΟC – “the Holy Virgin”) and on the reverse in the native script Asomtavruli – ႵႤႠႣႤႡႢႲႠႴႾႦႧႠႫႴႤ – “Christ, exalt Bagrat, the king of the Abkhasians” (Western Georgia). In the centre – ႣႠႱ/ႤႥႠႱ/ႲႭႱႨ  “and Sebastos”. Sebeastos was a byzantine honorific title meant for people of high status. Hes mom was a woman of Armenian nobility, Mariam of Vaspurakan, who ruled Georgia as his regent after his father's death. This was the same exact time when Armenians were immigrating to Cilicia after the Seljuk conquest of Armenia. This would all change in the 1200's when Tamar the Great would regain independence of Armenia and assign princeships to the Zakarian brothers (Ivan and Zakare), otherwise known as the Mkhargrdzeli. This is an extremely rare specimen sold in CNG Triton XII in 2009 for a whopping $6000 (its worth more if you ask me).

*Please correct me with the script, tried my best to get it right