Roman or Greek??

Hello, I picked up this ancient coin that had a very heavy coating of green on it. It was so bad that I couldn't see anything. I have been working on it and have removed quite a bit of the green (what a job). And now I can see at least 2 different faces on the obverse when you turn the coin different ways. And on the reverse there is lettering and other things that I have no idea what this could be. What an interesting specimen. I want to clean this some more but I don't want to hurt it. Any ideas on what this might be? Rarity, e tc. ?

 

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Neither.

 

What??

 

My guess is Byzantine due to the large "M."

 

Nor roman, nor greek. It´s a Byzantine follis.

It seems to be a follis of Justin II with his wife Sophia. "M" stands for 40 nummi, which is the value on this coin, regnal year is ANNO 6 (year 6) to each side of it, CON in exergue means Constantinople mint.

You should have no problem to pick it up from here.

 

The year 6 AD? Thank you

 

I just wanted to add that this coin has a diameter of 29.35mm and a weight of 13 grams even.

 

I think maybe this is this coin

ISLAMIC COINS. PSEUDO BYZANTINE. Two Standing Figures, Copper Fals, rev CION, M

 

Want more info please: I should think that would make it more interesting and (?) valuable. Yes? No?

 

On my coin if you look real close at the obverse it has the face or bust of 2 different figures. You look at one of the pictures and you can see one complete face and then with the coin rotated there is a second face on the other picture. And this coin weighs in at 13 grams and is 29.35 mm.

 

Interesting yes, value though not so sure. Only reason I don't think its Justinian and Sophia is because they are usually in a sitting pose. The OP's coin clearly shows 2 figures standing which personally I have not seen before.

 

Yes, I think that this coin is worth something and it is much larger than the one you just showed me.

 

Lets also wait for someone more experienced than I to take a look. I'm still pretty new to ID'ing coins.

 

Valuable is a relative thing when it comes to ancients. I have a bronze coin of Philip II that is uncommon enough that you'd be lucky to find one on Vcoins, any auction house, or even Ebay on any given day. I couldn't say how many there are, only that they come up for sale very infrequently. You'd think it would be worth a fortune then, but you'd be lucky to get more than $70 for it.




Just because something is uncommon, or rare, doesn't mean it's worth a fortune. Not too many people care about Philip II, so this infrequently found coin is worth peanuts, while a very common Mark Antony denarius that you can find a dime a dozen on vcoins, all auction houses, and Ebay, commands $500 plus routinely. Why? Because a lot of people want a Mark Antony coin and are willing to pay a lot for it, even if they are common as dirt (by ancient coins standards), and not too many of them have heard of Philip II, and if they have, could care less about this young Augustus.

@Insider it may very well be that OP's coin is very unusual or uncommon, but value will mostly depend on how much people want one. I honestly couldn't say with that coin. OP's coin is certainly beautiful and intriguing regardless.

 

Hey I appreciate your imput. And so far I haven't been able to find another one like it.

 

Nope, that "6" doesn't mean 6 AD (the 6 must be the sixth year of that dude's rule? ... maybe?)

Justin-II and his Byzantine time was in the 6th century AD ...

=> I have a fairly sweet example of this dude ... wanna see it?

Justin II, AE15 Pentanummium
565-578 AD
Diameter: 14.7 mm
Weight: 1.9 grams
Obverse: Monogram
Reverse: Large E; K right (Cyzique Mint)



=> I only have "4" examples from this fairly rare coin-century (congrats on your new coin)

*self-edit*

Dang, I didn't read all of your posts ... lesson learned (again and again and again and again)



Ummm okay, what is the year of the OP-coin?

 

Hahaha, no, there were no byzantines (at least not the roman ones) in 6 AD.

Regnal year means from the year he got indicted.

 

Thank you.

 

I would be inclined to quarantine the coin for a while as there appears to be green sitting in the remaining pitting beneath the coin surface....

 

Bill, curious what are you using to clean it with?