Post your Byzantine coins!

Hello! I'm somewhat new here so I apologize if this has been asked of people before. I love byzantine coins and the history in general. I was hoping to see some of your awesome byzantine coins and why you love them! I'll start with mine

-justinian I follis-



-Alexios I Comnenus tetarteron-




-Manuel I Comnenus tetarteron-




-Constantine VII and Zoe follis-



-Justin II and Sophia follis-

 

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Those are some really nice coins

 

Thanks They aren't anything too fancy, but they were decently affordable and I've been learning the history of the eastern empire and it's many emperors. I love these little pieces of art!

 

Welcome Christina.

I do not collect Byzantine consistently. But I have a few. I find the highlights of this Maurice Tiberius to be quite pleasing.

 

Welcome, @Christina Pernock to the Ancients Forum of CT. Some nice coins you have.

My focus is at the other end of the Roman timeline: in the Republic and those States/Empires that they dealt with...

I really do not collect Byz, but I dabble.


RO Manuel I Comnenus 1143-1180 CE Aspron Trachy 35mm 4g Christ Gospels Labaran globus cruciger Virgin maphorium SB 1966 scyphate


BYZANTINE EMPIRE. Andronicus II and Michael IX, AD 1295-1320.
AR Basilikon, 22mm, 2.1g, 6h; Mint of Constantinople.
Obv.: IC XC KVREI BOHΘH, Christ enthroned, right hand raised in benediction,large dot either side.
Reverse.ΑVΤΩΚΡΑΤΟ - PΕC PWΜΑION; Andronicus standing left and Michael standing right; holding between them a labarum.
Reference: DOC V part 1.Class VIII.(f) 528-534
From the @H8modern Collection
Ex: @John Anthony

 

Yes they are. Those are two especially solid tetarterons.
And, @Christina Pernock, Welcome! Not to drop names, there are people here who are as deeply into Byzantine as you are.
...And, with apologies, I'm not. Well, other than the anonymous folles and the Comneni. ...But only today, I found the .pgs (often hidden in strange places on the computer) for this. It's a Frankish imitation of a trachy of Manuel I, from what some of us might call Occupied Constantinople, c. earlier 13th c. Finding this, with several others, all listed at the same time, was an Event. I especially need how, along with the relative amount of other detail, you can still see part of the still Greek legend for 'Manuel.' (...Evoking what the Normans seem to have done in England, where more than minting was concerned: the mere appropriation of existing Anglo-Saxon infrastructure.)

 

That's a nice trachy! I've actually been looking into getting a manuel I trachy myself!

 

...Wish I was any real help finding good ones (...VCoins used to be one place to look). But --and I wish you could stop me-- the signature of any really solid trachy, c. Comneni or the from the succeeding Dukas dynasty, up to the 1200s and the justly infamous 4th Crusade, is how much of the legend was struck up in the first place. ...To resort to mixed cliche, that's my two cents, for what they're worth.

 

@Christina Pernock welcome to Coin Talk and welcome to the wonderful world of Byzantine coinage. Like you, I am a new collector (started in February) and my main focus is Greek and Byzantines. You can't go wrong with Byzantine coinage, the coins themselves are diverse in style and interesting, and don't get me started on the emperors behind them. Game of Thrones looks like a daytime soap-opera compared to their shenanigans. I am interested to know how you got into coin collecting and Byzantines in particular. Usually the Byzantine world is too exotic and hardly mentioned in the western world, so it is always interesting to know how people get introduced to it.

Here is 3 of my favorite Byzantines:







And as a bonus, here is my Constantine & Zoe

 

Christina, Welcome to CT ! It's great to see another Byzantine collector show-up on CT. I like your Justinian 40 nummi bronze from the Cyzicus Mint. Pictured below is a 40 nummi bronze from my collection along with a few gold solidi.

 

Here's my most recent Byzantine acquisition:

Justin I, AD 518-527.
Byzantine Æ follis, 17.03 g, 34.3 mm, 7 h.
Constantinople, 4th officina, AD 518-527.
Obv: D N IVSTI-NVS P P AVG, diademed, draped and cuirassed bust, right.
Rev: Large M; cross above, stars flanking; Δ//CON.
Refs: DOC 8d; MIBE 11; SB 62.

 

Welcome. I doubt there is anywhere you can get more to study for your money than in Byzantine bronzes. Like many here, I deny collecting them but quite a few have followed me home. I am particularly fond of overstrikes and Byzantine coins are a goldmine for these messy coins. Of course, the best ones have easily identifiable undertypes not only to ruler but mint and date, too. The fun is in trying to figure out what is there and which parts of the detail belong to which strike. Below are ten messes I like.

I believe the first here is Heraclius over Focas over Tiberius Constantine or Maurice Tiberius (which?). Sometimes it helps to rotate the photos placing the undertype 'up' so this photo is oriented to favor the Focas.


The rest are shown here without diagnoses. Those who like to play this game are welcome to try them.

 

Welcome to Coin Talk - those are some mighty fine Byzantines you got there.

This gives me an excuse to share my most recent Byzantine, which even by my standards is pretty horrific. I wanted it because it has the most peculiar obverse strike - like a 17th Century European "roller press" strike, it appears to have two separate/separated strikes. I don't know. I don't even know what side is up.

But here it is, a $1.15 worth of Byzantine ugly (the photos show the obverse with two separate orientations, as I am unsure which is correct - any opinions welcomed). Is the pointy thing an Imperial nose, or the back of a garment?

My attribution assumes the first photo is correct:





Justin I Æ Dodecanummium
(12 Nummi)
n.d. (c. 518-527 A. D. )
Alexandria Mint
DN IV[STINVS PP AV], pearl diademed, draped, cuirassed bust right / Large I-B, cross between, AΛΕΞ in exergue.
SB 112; DOC 58; MIB 68.
(1.83 grams / 11 mm)
eBay Nov. 2020 $1.15

Attribution Notes:
Seller said this was Justin I. But it could be Justinian I: SB 247; DOC 274.
Or imitative issue (it is very light and terribly off-center).

 

Welcome to CoinTalk and congrats on your collection so far! It looks great, they are some really quality pieces. I only have a couple that are on the lower end of quality.

AE Follis / 40 Nummi
Heraclius
610 - 641 CE
6.08g | 27 mm



AE Follis / 40 Nummi
Heraclius
626 / 627 CE
Cyprus Mint
3.07g



Unattributed scyphate trachy, I should figure this one out sometime ​

 

Hi @Christina Pernock and Welcome to CoinTalk. I don't specialize in Byzantines but I have about 20 bronze examples of different shapes and sizes.

The parsimonious accountant-minded Anastasius, who left the treasury 23 million solidi in its coffers upon his death.

Anastasius, 491-518 A.D.

Type: Large AE Follis, 39 mm 19 grams

Obverse: DN ANASTASIVS PP AVG, Diademed draped and Cuirassed bust right, star on right shoulder (rare)

Reverse: Large M, Epsilon below. Cross above M, star in left field, Mintmark CON





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 discuss Focas and his reign here but here is a coin of Focas.

Attribution: Sear Byzantine 665 KYZB (Cyzicus) mint

Date: 608 AD

Obverse: DN FOCAS PERP AVG, crowned, mantled bust facing, holding mappa and cross, cross in left field

Reverse: Large XXXX, ANNO to left, regnal year to right, mintmark KYZB

Size: 30.16 mm

Weight: 11.4 grams






A nephew and close adviser of the Byzantine emperor Justinian I, Justin II became emperor in November 565 following his uncle’s death. He began his reign on a note of resolution and common sense; he paid state debts, remitted overdue taxes, and reduced expenditures.

In the early part of his reign, Justin allowed a measure of toleration to the dissident miaphysite Christians. Initially, he hoped to bring about a union of the miaphysite factions and then to unite them with the orthodox church. In March 571, however, he inaugurated a policy of persecution and issued a lengthy antimiaphysitic creed that all clergy were required to sign under penalty of imprisonment.

In the West, despite an alliance with the Franks, Justin was unable to prevent the Lombards from entering Italy in 568, and parts of that country were soon permanently lost. His relations with the Avars and Persians were marked by similar, though less serious, reverses. Shortly after his accession, determined to abandon Justinian’s policy of buying peace, he rejected an Avar request for tribute.

In 568 he concluded an alliance with the Western Turks of Central Asia, apparently directed against the Avars and Persians. Yet after campaigning against the Avars, who were ravaging the Danubian frontier, he was forced to come to terms with them in 571. Three years later a treaty was concluded stipulating that the Byzantines pay a yearly tribute to the Avars. In 576 the Western Turks, angered by the treaty, not only broke off their alliance with Justin but also seized a Byzantine stronghold on the Crimean Peninsula.

In 571 the part of Armenia governed by Persia revolted and requested assistance from the Byzantine Empire. In the late summer of the following year, Justin’s forces invaded Persia. The Persians, however, not only repulsed the Byzantines but themselves invaded Byzantine territory, capturing a number of important cities, including Dara, which fell in November 573. After learning of the fall of Dara, Justin became insane, and in 574 the empress Sophia, acting on his behalf, entered into peace negotiations.

Induced by Sophia to adopt as his son the general Tiberius, Justin conferred on him the title of caesar in December 574. Thereafter, Justin, although nominally still emperor, lived in retirement until his death.

Justin II and Sophia, AE Follis. 31.4 mm 13.79 grams

Obverse: DN IVSTINVS PP AVG, Justin on left holding cross on globe and Sophia on right, holding sceptre topped by cross, both nimbate, seated facing on double-throne

Reverse: Large M, ANNO to left, cross above, regnal year to right (year III), officina letter below, mintmark CON.

Reference: SB 360, MIB 43. (492 (!) combinations known).

 

Hi Christina!

Welcome to CT and I am thrilled to find another Byzantine collector. One of my focuses is Eastern Christendom which mainly incorporates the Byzantine Empire. You have a fine collection of Byzantine coins! Here are a few from my collection that I got recently:

Byzantine Empire: Justin II (565-578) Æ Decanummium, Theoupolis/Antioch (Sear 383; DOC I.111)
Obv: D N IVSTINVS P P AVG; Justin, holding globus cruciger, and Sophia, holding cruciform scepter, seated facing on double throne, both crowned
Rev: Large I between A/N/N/O and X and star; above, cross; in exergue, THЄЧP'



Byzantine Empire: Heraclius (610-641) ) Æ Follis, Seleucia Isauriae, RY 7 (Sear 845; DOC II.181)
Obv: Blundered inscription; to left, Heraclius; to right, smaller Heraclius Constantine, each wears Chlamys and crown with cross, and holds globus cruciger in right hand; between their heads, cross
Rev: Large M between A/N/N/O and ЧI; above ⳩; beneath, A; in exergue, SЄLISЧ



Byzantine Empire: Justin II (565-578 CE) Æ Decanummium, Carthage, RY1 (Sear 397; DOC I.192; MIBE 78)
Obv: DNIVSTI-NVSPPA; Diademed, draped and cuirassed bust of Justin II facing right
Rev: Large X between P/R - A/N/N/O; cross above, star below; CAR in exergue
Dim: 5.35 g; 20 mm

 

@Only a Poor Old Man, as far as Game of Thrones, I've been saying the same thing about the Angevins!!!!!

 

Those are some beautiful coins! As for how i got into the hobby I don't actually remember. I've loved coins since memory serves me. It was probably my grandma that got me into it though. I used to collect more modern us coins, but moved onto ancients/medieval earlier this year! I am a huge history buff which is how i got into byzantine coinage and the empire in general. I started off with greek history and more recently moved onto the roman empire, however once i started learning about the eastern roman empire i feel like i hit the jackpot. I love learning about it and feel like it's often overlooked in favor of the west, which also has wonderful history. It's really an awesome subject to learn about!

 

I love your Heraclius 3 emperors solidus! That's actually one of my dream coins. Not in a position to afford one at the moment, but once I can it's first on my list! Beautiful coins!

 

beautiful coins! and great history lesson! Byzantine history is super interesting to learn about.