Was the Supernova of 1054 AD, (Crab Nebula) depicted on a Byzantine Coin

 

There was a supernova explosion in AD 1054. Despite the fact that it occurred about 6,500 light-years away, it was visible in the sky for 23 days and about 653 nights thereafter. A bright explosion, known to the present-day astronomers as SN 1054. The supernova explosion eventually formed what is now called the M1- the Crab Nebula. It was one of only eight recorded supernovae in the history of the Milky Way. This was witnessed by the Chinese astronomers, who referred it as a ''guest star'', while astronomers in Japan and Iraq also noted its appearance in writing and on stone inscriptions. However, this was never mentioned in Europe, (maybe for reasons as mentioned later in this writeup), which at that time was largely ruled by the Byzantine Emperor Constantine IX and the Christian church.                                       

Constantine IX, Monomachus, AD 1054, gold, two stars flanking crown

The Crab Nebula was identified as a supernova remanent of SN 1054, between 1921 and 1942, which is an interesting study by itself.

                                        

The Crab Nebula, the remnants of SN 1054, taken by the Hubble Space Telescope in visible light, at its core is a long dead star, Image credit: NASA, ESA, J.Hester and A.Loll.                                        

                                       

The guest star reported by Chinese astronomers in AD 1054 is identified as SN 1054. The highlighted passages refer to the supernova   

                                        

Simulated image of the SN 1054 at the position of the modern Crab Nebula, as presumably would have been observed from Kaifeng, China during the morning of 04 July 1054 AD.

A team of researchers has published a study in the ''European Journal of Science and Theology,'' that analyzed four Byzantine gold coins minted during Constantine IX's reign, from AD 1042 to 1055. In contrast to the three coins that show only one star, the fourth coin, minted in AD 1054, known in the technical jargon as the Constantine IX Monomachos Class IV coin is framed by two bright stars, which may be the depiction of the supernova. The sun may be represented by the emperor's head, Venus by the eastern star, and SN 1054, might be represented by the ''guest star" or the western star, which is visible in the daytime sky opposite Venus for nearly a month. This coin was mined between the summer of 1054 AD and the spring of 1055 AD. Interestingly, the supernova first appeared in the constellation of Taurus on 04 July 1054 AD, and disappeared in April 1056 AD 

                                      

    

Two stars are noticed on Class IV coin, whereas all other classes, i.e., Class I, Class II and Class III coins have one star (minted during Constantine IX's reign), Credit Filipovic et al, Phys Org  

                                       

Constantine IX, Monomachus, 1054 - 1055 AD, gold, weight 4.4 gm, Constantinople mint, Obverse: Bust of Christ, Reverse: crowned facing bust of Constantine IX, holding globus cruciger in right hand and sword in left, two stars flanking crown

                                        

Some of the analytical techniques used on the coins included precise dimensioning, Credit Filipovic et al 

According to this research, SN 1054 visible on the rare coin suggests that Byzantine scholars may not have written about it as the church may have had a prejudice against observing any changes to the sky that would threaten the theological status quo, and the peaceful environment prevalent then. In this case, managing to circumvent censorship, a special edition coin minted after the AD 1054 event, might have provided an effective way to record the event.

Researchers also examined 36 similar coins at various museums across the world, which revealed another spectacular detail. It is possible that SN 1054's gradual dimming in the sky was depicted by the variation in size of the western star shown on the coins. We can still see SN 1054 today as the ''Crab Nebula'' with a good telescope. 

But as with much of ancient history, it is hard to separate fact from speculation, but we must appreciate the work done by researchers. 

Article by Andy Tomaswick, in Universe Today, Courtenay, British Columbia, Canada.

Article by Ivan Petricevic in Curiosmos