Great example common coin.

Discussion in 'Ancient Coins' started by BenSi, Feb 23, 2020.

  1. BenSi

    BenSi Well-Known Member

    y3.jpg
    ALEXIUS AE HALF TETARTERON S-1932 DOC 45 CLBC 2.4.8

    OBV Patriarchal cross on two steps. ( retrograde)

    REV Bust of emperor wearing stemma divitision and jeweled loros and in r. hand holding jeweled scepter and in l. Globus cruciger.

    Size 14.50mm

    Weight .90gm

    DOC Catalog lists 42 examples with weights ranging from .59gm to 3.22gm and sizes ranging from 13mm to 18mm

    I aquired this example from a fellow collector that was persuaded to let it go. The coin is by far the most abundant coin of the 12th century. This has been proven over and over with site finds in Athens and Corninth. It was listed as a from a mint that Michael Hendy in his work believed to be in centeral Greece.
    However, recent excavations of the Metro in Thessalonica have shown
    these coins in the hundreds, bringing once again Thessalonica being the possible location of the mint.
    Interesting is the differences in weights, this type of coin was imitated until the 13th century. Its simple design made it easy to do so. I am uncertain if this particular coin is from an official mint or a later imitation however the retrograde cross ( inscription flipped does bring it into question. ) regardless this is a really nice example of a coin rarely seen this nice.
     
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  3. BenSi

    BenSi Well-Known Member

    The other example in the collection it joins.
    Size 15.81mm

    Weight 2.0gm
    y4.jpg
     
  4. oldfinecollector

    oldfinecollector Well-Known Member

    As a Byzantium coinage collector like you what is uncommon is to have the best quality possible of such coin.
     
    BenSi likes this.
  5. catadc

    catadc Well-Known Member

    I find it fascinating that this is one the best examples of this type; on a mobile phone, the coin does not look that nice. As I usually use your gallery as a reference for condition of tetarterons, I have no reason to doubt you found some of the best, but still find it fascinating that hundreds (thousands?) are available, and none in a better condition. Might be explained by the fact that nobody put a lot of effort in minting the lowest denomination and, in addition, it circulated extensively, but still unusual to not find a really nice one.
     
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  6. oldfinecollector

    oldfinecollector Well-Known Member

    when Philip Grierson was among curator of the Dumbarton Oaks he spend time and effort to find the finest possible Byzantium coins and he find only one Italian collector who had a top quality high grade Byzantium coins collections as this guy dedicated his life to find gems over thousands of poor quality ones. So Philip Grierson bought his entire collection to enhance the fabulous Dumbarton Oaks Collection part of Havard collections of arts.

    Good quality high grade Byzantium coins are very rare , not expensive compare to high end Roman coins. Personally I hunt for Byzantium coins high end grade of the most artistic ones. And it is not in auction that you find them but with a network of contacts with old collectors that want a future for their gems with a quite young collector with no money. I have no children’s so my collection will be part of an existing foundation when I will be old. My project is to have 200 of the most beautiful Byzantium coins gold, silver and extremely rare.
     
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  7. BenSi

    BenSi Well-Known Member

    The lowest denominations continued to circulate, they were used for change for Peoples taxes that had to be paid in gold. The 12th century government never had any intention of taking them back in so the circulated in the Balkans well into the 13th century. In fact at the fall of Constantinople to the Latins the tetartera became involved in a shortage and coins such as the on the thread were imitated and minted almost a hundred years after Alexius death.

    Most of the higher end coins are easier to find in high end condition because they did not circulate on a daily basis . The best of these were purse coins, these were coins sealed in a purse and did not circulate individually but a bag of coins sealed equaling one large sum. The bag was created and certified by a money changer. Many times when small Byzantine hoards are found of gold they are from the same mint and even same dies because the bag was lost and then rotted away.

    My collection was originally just to get them all,since the collection is complete it is now it is to get the best examples. Some years I find one or two gems , other years not so much.
     
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  8. oldfinecollector

    oldfinecollector Well-Known Member

    Thanks very interesting about the use of coins in today life
     
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