Hey, Smeag => maybe you can take baby-steps and only buy one Byzantine example from each of those rare Byzy-centuries!! ... that'll cut it down to a mere handful (flawless, no?)
Yes, good point Gol. Sometimes I think coin collecting is actually a form of OCD. And coin collecting isn't my only expensive hobby, I also travel a lot! The government really should provide coin collector / travel bug welfare subsidies.
Ahaha => yah, I have always stated that coin collecting is a sweet placebo for my mild OCD (one rabbit, one wolf, one rat, one ... )
Of all specialties, Byzantine is one OCD complete freaks should avoid. There are way too many unique coins that you will never see let alone own. Its also a bad place for condition freaks since about half the bronzes were under fine when struck and they do not get better with time. Also it is a bad place for those who require their rulers to be high minded and pleasant. Byzantine history is...well...Byzantine. Those who refuse to buy random examples that come your way might start with a denomination or type or mint set but coins that cover a thousand years are never going to be easy to fit in your 'one per' desires. Here is my set (minus the middles): Anastasius (first) John VIII (next to last) - someone show their Constantine XI
Doug, I still love your John VIII, simply outstanding! But, your comments are correct. Getting good specimens is difficult! QG (SpongeBob on FORVM)
I researched the Byzantine portrait series... the first 10 rulers are easy. After that it becomes hard. Heraclonas, Mezezius, Irene etc. Does anybody ever get a full set of anything?
There are a few coins that are missing in my collection for Leo VI. That includes 3 more Cherson coins, a half follis from Constantinople, a miliaresion, and of course the gold Solidus and gold Nomisma. The following coins are not mine, but are added for illustration purposes: Byzantine Empire: Leo VI the Wise (886-912) AV Nomisma, Constantinople (Sear-1724; DOC 1) Byzantine Empire: Leo VI the Wise (886-912) AV Solidus, Constantinople (Sear-1725; DOC 2) Byzantine Empire: Leo VI the Wise (886-912) AR Miliaresion, Constantinople (Sear-1726; DOC 3) Byzantine Empire: Leo VI the Wise (886-912) AE Half Follis, Constantinople (Sear-1736; DOC 7) Byzantine Empire: Leo VI the Wise (886-912) AE Follis, Cherson (Sear-1732; DOC 10) Byzantine Empire: Leo VI the Wise (886-912) AE Follis, Cherson (Sear-1733; DOC 11) Byzantine Empire: Leo VI the Wise (886-912) AE Follis, Cherson (Sear-1734; DOC 12)
If you are loaded! Seriously, some of the rulers are quite rare and near impossible to find. Rarely comes up at auction. It gets harder and harder to complete a ruler as the number of coins issued becomes unmanageable...