Byzantine are my only ancients I have attributed and actively collect. Specifically because they have Jesus Christ on them. Byzantine Empire Anonymous Ӕ Follis Class B Attributed to Romanus III A.D. 1028-1034 30x31mm 9.1gm OBV: facing bust of Christ, wearing nimbus cruciger, pallium and colobium, holding gospels with both hands, IC - XC (Jesus Christ) flanking across field. REV: Cross on three steps with pellet at each extremity, in fields IS - XS (Jesus Christ) / bAS-ILE / bAS-ILE (King of Kings) Constantinople mint SB 1823 Byzantine Empire Anonymous Ӕ Follis Class I Time of Nicephorus III A.D. 1078-1081 23mm 2.6gm OBV: Nimbate bust of Christ facing, holding Gospels; IC-XC across field. REV: Latin cross with x at center and globule and two pellets in each extremity, in lower field either side, floral ornament; in upper field either side, crescent. Constantinople mint SB 1889 Also: https://www.cointalk.com/threads/post-your-jesus-coins.286132/
Justinian I (527-565 A.D.) AE Follis, Constantinople Mint, 10 grams, 28mm Obverse: Diademed, Draped and Cuirassed Bust Right, DN IVSTINIANVS PP AVG Reverse: Large M, cross above, star to left and right, officina letter below Reference: SB 160, Dumbarton Oaks Collection 30.
I dont collect Byzantine, but I do appreciate oddities and modifications, errors, etc. As such this one falls into that category (my attribution may be incorrect, I dont remember spending much time on it): Justinian I, 527 – 565 AD Æ Follis, 31mm Constantinople Mint, 13.67 grams Obverse: D N IVSTINIANVS PP AVC, Diademed, draped and cuirassed bust of Justinian right. Reverse: Large M, star on left, cross above, crescent to right, E below, CON in exergue. References: Unpublished? DOC 32 var // MIBE 88 var Rare, no other examples in sales record, three similar examples sold (two with cross in obverse field, one with obverse legend variant).
This is a new pic of one of my first Byzantine coins I recently took. I got this coin out and found that it had BRONZE DISEASE! Justin II and Sophia, 565-578 AD, AE Half Follis O: Justin and Sophia, R: K (20 nummi) with regnal year (year 5) flanking and cross above. 5.9 g, 22 X 17 mm. This pic was taken post-treatment with distilled water, scrubbing, and an application f verid-care. If I hadn't taken the coin of of the flip I had it in, I probably wouldn't have noticed.
Only a countermark fanatic could love something this ugly. One of my favorites of the year so far - Heraclius countermark for Sicily. One of my best buys for the year so far - $1.25 (some might dispute it is even worth that!) My attribution is iffy - it is hard to see the second bust (of Heraclius Constantine) for my SB 883 claim. It could be the monogram version SB 882. I tried to show my attribution rationale with pitiful graphics The host coin has a Chi-Rho above the reverse M, and after poking around I thought it was probably Maurice Tiberius. Just a guess. Byzantine Empire Æ Follis Heraclius & Her. Constantine (c. 616-622 A.D.) Sicilian Mint Host coin: Nikomedia follis of Maurice Tiberius (?) SB 512. Counterstamp: Two busts, Heraclius & Her. Constantine facing in circle / SCLs in oval. SB 883; DOC 242. (10.27 grams / 30 mm)
I'll never have a Constantine XI but my John VIII (next to last Byzantine Emperor) is similar in type but not nearly as crude, rare or expensive.
This is a cool modification indeed. Any idea what it was used for? (BTW, I think it's Sear 162, which is indeed pretty rare.) Here's one that straddles the Roman/Byzantine border, an Anastasius nummus:
Heraclius, Byzantine emperor 610-641, had wars with the Sasanians and then the Arabs, while having trouble holding Italy and Sicily. His financial troubles are evident in his coinage. This coin is from Syracuse, Sicily, struck 632-641 according to Dumbarton Oaks. 26-20 mm. 5.77 grams. Large countermark of facing busts of Heraclius and his son Heraclius Constantine (obscure)/monogram of Heraclius and SC (bar above the S), overstruck on the cut down flan of a coin from Constantinople (see CON 5:30 to 3:00 on the obverse) and X/X/I down from 12:00 to 2:00, as Sear 810. Sear 884 (Sear mentions overstrikes on Sear 809, but that is a typo for 810). Sear 810 (the undertype of the previous coin). See the CON and X/X/I. 30-26 mm. 8.37 grams. Heraclius and son, from Constantinople, year 21. Many coins with related countermarks are much larger because the undertype was larger and not cut down to a smaller size (e.g. Sear 833, which is almost the same, but the strike covers a smaller fraction of the flan) . I think the undertype here was cut down to save metal and still serve as the flan for this type. Yes, I agree that many Byzantine coins are lousy, but they are interesting and related to history.
I don't actively collect Byzantines; just a few stray folles I picked up from lots and didn't feel like parting with. I do have these three as an appendix to my Roman set: Anastasius Justin Justinian My mind was blown sky high when I learned that especially this early Byzantine gold is so darn common that doesn't go for much more than melt! I eventually hope to collect all Byzantine emperors in solidii at least through Heraclius, but that is a long ways off.
This Justin is in extraordinarily nice style! I hope I manage to get one of these Thessalonica issues someday. My Constantinople (which at least has a cool shoulder star):
Nice example of a common coin. Like most Byzantine collectors I started with Roman Imperial. I then got hooked on Byzantine coinage after reading more history and seeing how affordable the coins were. They are basically the same as Roman coinage in design, except deities are replaced with Saints and other Symbols. MANUEL AE TETARTERON S-1976 DOC 19 CLBC 4.4.6 OBV Radiate cross on three steps. REV. Half-length figure of emperor, bearded, wearing stemma, divitision, collar piece, and jeweled loros of a simplified type; holds in r. hand labarum on laft shaft and in l. Globus cruciger. Size 24mm Weight 5.78gm
Here are my Byzantines (sorry, some of the photos are slightly out of Phocas, sorry, I mean focus...): 582-602 AD. Maurice Tiberius 1/2 Follis 582-602, 23 mm, 6,21 g 602-610 AD. Emperor Phocas Solidus, 22mm, 4.8g (coup against the above, took the throne) 610-641 AD. Heraclius & Heraclius Follis, 11.5g (coup against the above, took the throne... what goes around comes around...) 741-775 AD. Constantine V & Leo IV Follis/40 Nummi, 2.4g (sorry, obv turned out blurry and short on time to fix) 976-1025 AD. (Basil II) Follis, 10.0g 1137-1143 AD, John II Komnenos Silvered Aspron Trachy, 2.4g 1143-1180 AD, Manuel I. Komnenos Billon Aspron Trachy 3.4g Constantinople Mint 1222-1254 AD, John III Ducas Hyperpyron, 3.5g Magnesia Mint 1325-1328 AD, Andronicus II & Andronicus III Hyperpyron, 3.9g Constantinople Mint To complete my current goal, I still need a coin between 395 and 399 AD, a coin from the 400s, a coin from the 800s, and a coin from the 1400s. Upon review, I also need to find out more about some of these coins. I collected many of these early in my journey and didn't pay much attention to mints and types. I have posted minimal info for each coin, but for some it's almost I have! Some research will be required.
Here’s a group photo of mine. I wanted to get a representative emperor for each dynasty (preferably the best one, by my criteria). I am missing three from that original list. There is an Anastasius, three Justinians, one silver hexagram of Heraclius, a Follis of Maurice Tiberius, Theofilos, Leo VI, and an 9 gram A2 anonymous one. In addition, there are two aspron trachies of Alexios I and his grandson, Manuel I. There is one of the Latin rulers, and finally a stavraton of John VIII. I guess you can tell what my ancient focus is...
@Milesofwho i must agree. I really like that beautiful Alexius at the end. Beautifully silvered on the reverse. It is difficult to find well struck Alexius trachea.
Thank you very much! Thank you for your compliment! You are absolutely right. Also, thanks to seeing your wonderful specimens, I may have to buy a tetarteron to represent Isaac II.