On the coins with legend LAN SABAS

Abstract

The article reports on the rare coins from Taman finds with the depiction of the saint on the obverse and the inscription LAN SABAS on the reverse. It represents more exact description of the coin’s type and confirms earlier suggested attribution of these coins, that makes clearer the details of the certain events related to the confrontation of Byzantium and Lombard principalities of the Southern Italy in the second half of the tenth century. The fact of the occurrence of these coins on the Taman peninsula suggests the presence of the Byzantine troops in the Kerch Strait’s area in the 70’s of the tenth century and it resonates with Escurial Taktikon’s report on theme Bosporus, also dating from those years