A Byzantine cup-shaped coin for those who can't wait for the 2019 US Apollo coins

The Byzantine Empire made these cup-shaped gold coins called Hyperpyrons from AD 1092 to 1352.

These coins circulated far outside the Empire, from England to the Crusader states, where they were known as "Bezants".


John II Gold Hyperpyron Christ

Size: 27 x 25 mm
Weight: 4.18 gm
Catalog: Sear 1940
Struck: AD 1122-1137, Constantinople

Obverse:
Christ on throne holding book of gospels
ΚΕΡΟ ΙϹ ΧϹ ΗΘΕΙ
ΚΕΡΟ is Κυριος, Kyrios or Kyrie (Lord)
ΙϹ ΧϹ is an abbreviation for Ιησους Χριστος or Jesus Christ
ΗΘΕΙ is help or aid

Reverse:
Emperor left being crowned by Mary right
Left: ΙΩ ΔΕϹΠΟΤΗϹ Top: (Unknown) Right: ΜΘ
ΙΩ is Ιωαννης, Ioannis or John
ΔΕϹΠΟΤΗϹ is Despotes or Lord, Master
ΜΘ is Μητηρ Θεου, Meter Theou, or Mother of God

 

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Sometimes also called scyphates?

 

we just call'em "cup coins"...

 

Cup coins, bowl coins, dish coins...

 

Almost as objectionable as calling US cent coins (shudder) pennies...

 

Very nice, Willie! nice reverse.

 

http://www.doaks.org/resources/publications/doaks-online-publications/byzantine-coinage/byzcoins.pdf
See pages 59 and 60 above. The rest of the book is also enjoyable. Anyone interested in this post might find interest in the Ancients section of Coin Talk.

 

Not sure now where I am...

"Cup coins"?

I have one!


Manuel I, AD 1143-1180
Billon trachy, 30mm, 2.7g, 6h; Constantinople mint, AD 1167-1183.
Obv.: Christ, bearded, seated facing on throne without back, wearing nimbus cruciger, pallium, colobium, Gospels in left; no stars; in field / IC – XC
Rev.: MANYHΛ ∆ECΠ; the Theotokos (Virgin Mary) standing facing at right, crowning the emperor standing at left, holding labarum and globus cruciger; M above Mary's outstretched hand.

 

She's a beauty. And the name, (hyperpyron) too cool.

 

Very nice. I've got about 6-8 of the billon trachea in crappy condition that I tried to look up about 15 years. They're still sitting in my box of "Need ID".

 

i had no idea what the US coin was, hu....


http://www.collectspace.com/news/news-062017a-us-mint-apollo-11-coins-reverse-designs.html


i'm not sure if this is my best, but it's one of my better ones.



Isaac II Angelus, 1185-1195 AD

O: Mary, holding infant Christ, R: Emperor. Constantinople mint. SB 2003, 3.2g 29 mm

this is one of my worst ones, i never did figure out what it was. anyone have any ideas?




???? ??? ????

O: don't know, lets say...jesus. R: don't know, let's say emperor and...marry?

18 mm, 1.4g

 

I don't know, but I've been noticing this flan shape on a lot of Bronze issues from the 12th century that are Byzantine or influenced by them. I have a tetartera of Manuel I that looks like this (no picture, unfortunately), and then my Tancred from Antioch as well:

Crusader - Antioch
Tancred, Regent, r. 1101-1103, 1104-1112
AE Type 2 Follis, 20.3 mm x 3.3 grams
Obv.: Bust of Tancred facing, wearing turban, holding sword
Rev.: Cross pommetée, fleuronnée at base; IC XC NI KA in quarters
Ref.: De Wit 4079

There is a different Tancred coin I have been eyeing with the same flan shape. I'll admit I haven't done much research into Byzantine Coins and if the flan shape means anything - I always assumed it was just another 'crudely struck' coin, but I keep seeing this shape and am thinking it is not coincidence. Anyone have insight?