Isaac Komnenosz was born in 1155. His father Sebastókratór János Komnenos, II. He was the grandson of the Byzantine emperor János, his mother: Irén Dukász, his wife: Hermengárda (Sibilla) was a royal princess of Jerusalem. Isaac was born in 1184, II. He was proclaimed emperor after the overthrow of Andronikos. During his reign, the Byzantine Empire struggled with a serious crisis. Isaac was characterized as a tyrannical ruler who treated the population cruelly. In 1191 III. Alexios Angelosz deprived him of his throne and imprisoned him. Isaac died in 1195 or 1196 in the Sultanate of Iconium. Important events during his reign: 1185: II. Isaakios Angelos revolts against Isaac and overthrows his rule. 1187: King Richard the Lionheart of England captures Cyprus from Isaac during the Third Crusade. 1189: The Normans capture Thessaloniki. Isaac's reign was one of the most difficult periods of the decline of the Byzantine Empire. He is remembered as a tyrant ruler.

Emperor Isaac Komnenos ruled from 1184-1191, one of the most significant periods of Byzantine coinage. The emperor used coinage to consolidate his rule and legitimize the Komnenian dynasty. Emperor Isaac introduced several new forms of money, including the gold hyperperon, the silver nomis, and the copper foil. The golden hyperperon became a symbol of Isaac's reign and was the most valuable piece of Byzantine coinage. The silver nomisma was the basic unit of Byzantine coinage, and many new types of silver nomisma were issued during his reign. Copper foil was used for lower-class pay, and many new types of copper foil were issued under the emperor. Emperor Isaac's coinage also brought significant improvements in terms of quality. The coins were precisely and beautifully crafted, and the emperor's portrait and titles were carefully depicted. Emperor Isaac's coinage can be considered one of the most outstanding eras of Byzantine coinage. The coinage improved significantly both in terms of quality and quantity and became a symbol of the emperor's reign.