Michael was crowned co-emperor by his father, Theophilos, in 840, when Michael was still a baby. When Theophilos died two years later, Michael became emperor under a regency council of his mother, Theodora, Theodora's uncle, Manouel, and Theophilos' former advisor, Theoktistos. It is during this regency that the period of iconomachy was officially brought to an end with the council of 843. From this point on, the image of Christ became a regular feature of the Byzantine coinage. Numismatically, Michael's reign is curious for having apparently no base metal coins produced at Constantinople for the years 842-866. Michael was murdered by his co-emperor, Basil, in 867, whose subsequent need for legitimacy as a usurper emperor perhaps explains Michael's reputation as an inneffectual and pleasure-loving emperor.

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