At @Alegandron 's insistence, here's a couple of coins I got at the recent NCNA show down in Charlotte. I was attempting to keep my focus to just the medieval coins, and with the show winding down, I just found one table with any. Most of the coins he had were just from the Crusades (which seemed to be the seller's interest), so there weren't any huge finds for me, but some cheap examples of coins I wanted to grab eventually... French Feudal, Toulouse Raymond V-VII, r. 1148-1249 AR Denier, 19mm x 1.1 grams Obv.: Cross in center, S in first quadrant, RAMON COMES around outside Rev.: PAX in center, +TOLOSA CIVI around outside This second one I primarIly purchased because it could be useful in my classroom, but also because it was a good deal! The dealer (I'll keep his name confidential, I don't feel it's my place to disclose this) is apparently not doing well health wise, and so had a colleague selling his coins at significant discounts to raise money for his medical bills. I do wish I could have bought more to simply help out, but I was on a bit of a budget. Anyway, here is a Coin from Lucca used by the crusaders, and was found in the Holy Land: Crusader Issue from Lucca Henry III-V, r. 1035-1125 Crude AR Denier, 15.27mm x 1.1 grams Obv.: H center, IMPERATOR around Rev.: LVCA forming cross, ENRICVS around While I'm at it, I also picked up these two guys from one of @John Anthony 's auction recently: Northern Song China Hui Zong, r. 1101-1125 (1102-1106) AE 10 Cash, 35mm x 10.5 grams Obv.: 崇宁重宝 (Chong Ning Zhong Bao) Rev.: Blank Imperial Rome Victorinus, r. 269-271 A.D. Southern Mint, BL Antoninianus, 18mm x 2.6 grams Obv.: IMP C VICTORINVS P F AVG, Radiate, draped and cuirrased bust right. Rev.: PROVIDENTIA AVG - Providence standing left, holding baton and cornucopiae, globe at feet. Ex. YOC Mossy Bottom Barn Hoard The Northern Song coin was appealing for use in my class. It is clearly larger than the 5 cash coins cast earlier, and was a product a larger economic mess the Song would create - primarily by over printing paper money (which they started), but then also casting these coins which more a fiat money compared to the regular cash coins (assuming I understood what I read regarding these...) While I'm at it, here are some acquisitions from over the summer. They were gifts from my mother - she and my grandmother liked jewelry with ancient coins in them, and I know my grandmother had picked up fakes. I think these look genuine, but I'm terrible with Greek coins. I'm honestly not sure what to do with them, as my wife is not interested in wearing them, and I'd feel terrible breaking them out (they were a gift after all!) Apparently the person who sold these earrings to my mother gave her a couple of widow's mites for free, and my mother had just hung on to them ever since: Judea Alexander Janaeus, r. 103-76 B.C. AE Prutah, 12.3mm x 0.8 grams Obv.: Upside down anchor within circle Rev.: Star of eight rays surrounded by a border Same as above, 12.69mm x 1 grams As with the earrings, I think they look okay, but I haven't researched them, and do not know if they came from a reputable seller. Please forgive the photo quality - I rushed a little. I'm hoping to make an investment in some better equipment and replace these pieces.
Very attractive, eclectic set! If I may ask, what sort of class do you teach? If you've mentioned it before, I missed it.
No problem - Ancient and Medieval History. I was doing World Civ. When I was teaching college courses, but managed to snag this position at a private High School. It wasn't necessarily the plan, but considering what has happened to universities lately, it's a sweet gig that I'm enjoying. Not sure I really want to go back to a college job!
Congratulations on the sweet gig! I was a college professor for 15 years and left for well, reasons...probably akin to what you're alluding to.
Your first two make a good point about why I am less active in medieval than I might like to be. The first is a nice coin and not all that hard to read if you have seen a few punch lettered types. Unfortunately, my skills don't go so far as telling the difference between three rulers listed or to tell you anything about any of them. The Henry is hard enough to read that your spelling out the legend still leaves me scratching my head. When I thing of medieval coins, this is what comes to mind. Another problem is shown by the coin below clearly labeled RICARDVS I and ROTOMAGVS. Perhaps you know that Richard I the Lionhearted heart was buried at Rouen Cathedral (Rotomagus) but this coin is not THAT Richard but Richard I or Normandy. Bummer. I'm harder to confuse with ancients because I have been interested in them longer. The list of people who issued medieval coins is huge!
Fitz, looks like you had a successful day! Congrats! It was a fun, albeit quiet show when I was there Friday. The Northern Song looks very clea. Nice!
As I said to a few sellers at the coin show, ancient coins may be the dark side, but I think we medievalists are the bastard children. There are loads of issues, and many issued in the name of the same feudal lord without changes when a new lord takes over. I think being familiar with medieval history and how to study the Middle Ages has its advantages to collecting medieval coins, and makes them a little more familiar to me. Here is a coin in the name of Richard I (the lionheart) though: French Feudal, Poitou Richard I, r. 1169-1199 AR Denier, 17mm x 1 grams Obv.: +RICARDUS REX, a plain cross patée at the ends, annulet in third quarter, within inner circle Rev.: PIC / TAVIE / NSIS, written in three parallel lines Ref.: SCBC 8008 And as an example of the names staying static, here is Richard's English issue in the name of his father: England Richard I, r. 1189-1199 A.D. London Mint, AR Short Cross Penny, 18mm x 1.8 grams Obv.: henricus Rex Rev.: _ _ _ ard . on . Lund (Ricard, London) Ref.: SCBC 1347 I'll admit I don't know how someone was able to determine the different short cross coins minted during the reign of Henry II vs. Richard, John, or Henry III. But the distinguishing mark on this coin to place it in Richard's reign is the crown (only Richard has 7 pearls to the crown). In terms of the Lucca coin, it is a degenerative version of the original, and while a few of the letters can be made out, its identification is due more to its similarity to the earlier, finer style. Here is an example from LAC 5, lot 380: Much easier to read there. I think knowing Medieval Latin and paeleography also helps, but as you say, the punches are usually easy enough to read.
