Archaeological discoveries

An archaeologist discovering a byzantine coin bearing portrait of woman indicates that in the empire?

The presence of a Byzantine coin bearing the portrait of a woman likely suggests the reign of Empress Irene, who ruled the Byzantine Empire from 797 to 802 AD. Irene served as regent for her son, Constantine VI, before assuming the role of empress in her own right. During her rule, she played an important role in establishing the cult of icons, which had been previously suppressed by the iconoclastic movement. The depiction of a woman on a coin during this period is significant, as Empress Irene broke away from the tradition of only male rulers being depicted on Byzantine coinage.