Struck during the duumvirate of Constantine VI and his mother Irene, this coin stands testament to a dramatic and turbulent period of Byzantine court politics. When Constantine came to the throne in 780 AD after the death of his father Leo IV, he was only ten years old. As such, his mother Irene acted as regent for a number of years. During this decade of personal rule Irene consistently put herself before her young son in a brazen grab for power. This manifested itself numismatically in an interesting way. Coins from the regency depict both Irene and Constantine on the obverse as co-rulers and not as ruler and regent. Furthermore, Irene is shown holding the regal globus cruciger. Eventually she was arrested when the army proclaimed Constantine as sole emperor. Two years later in 792, Constantine pardoned his mother and welcomed her back to rule. This time, the coins depicted the two as true co-rulers and both Irene and Constantine hold the globus cruciger. After five years and a series of contentious backroom maneuvers Irene took advantage of the public outrage expressed at Constantine’s divorce of his wife Maria of Amnia, and marriage of his mistress, Theodote. Irene’s supporters seized, blinded, and imprisoned her son. With this, Irene was free to proclaim herself as the sole ruler of the Byzantine empire.