Thanks @BenSi I opened the document linked above. Although I was economical with my time when reading (i.e. I didn't read the whole thing), my understanding from the article is that it's difficult (perhaps impossible) to tell the difference between John II hyperpyra struck in Thessalonica, and early hyperpya struck by John III. So the John III coins struck in a later period (although I'm not clear whether this begins from Trans A, Trans B, Second A, or Second B), are distinguishable.
Beautifull addition AussieCollector These where minted at Magnesia Mint. Byzantine AV coinage is very affordable and nice! John
Elenis paper is very long, I have printed it out to read because it is hard to follow all the examples and because it is a study it is very dry reading but I do believe in her work. Here is another paper, It was written by Robert D Leonard Jr. , it touches on almost all of our questions, it is much more rounded and easier to digest than the Eleni Lianta study. I think you will enjoy this with your new acquisition. The Effects of the Fourth Crusade on European Gold Coinage. https://www.academia.edu/37338372/The_Effects_of_the_Fourth_Crusade_on_European_Gold_Coinage
@BenSi for interest, the specific gravity suggests John III as well. Noting that specific gravity has a decent margin of error for determining gold content, a specific gravity of 14.89 would put it at somewhere around 16.5 to 17 carats, which is consistent with John III gold content, and too low (even with a margin of error) for John II, which should be at around 20.5 carats with a specific gravity of almost 17.
Congratulations especially since you know it is John III now. Here is a coin I just won last week at auction, I am waiting to receive from Zurich this Thessalonica issue of John II. Now I just have to get one of your style but John II Thessalonica to finish( correction, Complete we are never finished.) the collection of his coinage.
Congrats to you as well @BenSi! Getting so very close to completing your collection. I'd be keen to see the John II Thessalonica hyperpyron when you get it. Yes, I am almost certain mine is John III now that I've done the SG test. I am actually pleased it's John III for a number of reasons, including that I want to include successor states in my Byzantine collection (still need Trebizond and maybe Epirus), and that I'm trying to make sure that my collection includes a coin from each century (from ~ 400s AD to 1400s AD). 1200s AD and Nicaea are now ticked. Although I have recently decided that I need to include a coin between 395 AD and 400 AD, so you know - the collection expands. I'll probably post my collection so far in the "show us your Byzantine coins" thread.
Beautiful collection @Bensi congrats! How do you know that a John II hyperpyron is from Thessalonica or from Constantinople? This one is from Constantinople: http://www.forumancientcoins.com/gallery/displayimage.php?pos=-154114 and yours from Thessalonica. I am trying to find the difference but can't see it. What am I missing?
Since I will own both examples, I will put them side by side when I receive the new one from the auction house.The issues from Thessalonica should be smaller and thicker fabric than the issues from Constantinople. both weighing about the same.
Finally Home very a very short visit. Here is the photo promised, the left side is the new Thessalonica version from my auction win in Zurich. My observation is it is slightly thicker than the coin on the right from Constantinople. The die seems smaller as well, not by much, this seems to agree with the description in CLBC. The coin on the left is heavier 4.5gm and is slightly smaller 29mm, The coin on the right from Constantinople weighs in at 4.00gm and is 30/31mm Bottom line, if these are correctly attributed , it is very difficult to tell the difference between the two issues.
Some questions if one knows the answer: How do we, or David Sear, know(s) that a smaller and thicker Hyperpyron mean it is minted in Thessalonica? A similiar example: Both the aboves are solidus and both weight 4,42 gram, but David Sear says that 22 mm is Constantinople-minted, while the second one is 12 mm and from Carthage. I wonder how he reached to that conclusion? Some months ago I read that an Israeli archaeologist claimed Heraclius brought the Constantinople-diet in Jerusalem and struck many of his Solidis there to pay his troops due to the war with the Persians. The above is Maurice Tiberius, a so-called Solidus of 22 Siliquae. It is 4,12gram and 21mm. Sear 529. Note the unsual exergue: "OB+*" David Sear claims that it is minted in Antioch. But I don't know how he concludes it. And here: This is a very common anonymous follis. It circulated in the 11th century where the Byzantines had taken Antiochia already in the previous century. In the 500s the Byzantines tend to struck many many many coins in Antiochia/Theupolis. - Why should this anonymous follis not be struck also in Antiochia? - Why do all numismatics assume it was only struck in Constantinople? I thank anyone who can provide a respond.
I think David mostly compiled the work of of other sources including dealers. I do think SBCV was published before Dumbarton oakes IV, that would cover my coinage but the earlier rulers he would have had access to DOC I, Ii. III. DOC is Dumbarton Oakes Catalog. Most of the placing of coins to certain mints would be based on hoard finds and contemporary writings. Later coins again in my time period of collecting lacked mint marks, many are attributed by style to a certain mint.
Thank you very much BenSi for pointing out the differences. Seeing your Hyperpyrons side by side, the one on the right (Constantinople) seems to be more elaborate or "delicate", the details are finer, at least on these two; e.g. the dots on John's loros, the folds on the Virgin's dress and veil.