Despot Manuel Komnenos-Ducas Trachy (1230-1237)

Discussion in 'Ancient Coins' started by The Trachy Enjoyer, Feb 16, 2021.

  1. The Trachy Enjoyer

    The Trachy Enjoyer Well-Known Member

    Obv: O / AΓ / HOC / ΘEO / ΔP / O / C.
    Half-length figure of St. Theodore facing, holding lance over shoulder and shield.

    Rev: MANOVHΛ ΔECΠOT - AΓΙΟC ΔΗΜΗΤΡΙΟC.
    Half-length figures of Despot Manuel and St. Demetrius facing, both holding sword; above, star and cloud with manus dei blessing emperor.

    Thessalonica Mint (1230-1237). Sear 2182. DOC V, 8. LBC 363. (Excuse my photo...I tried to "cut" the coin out of its background and imitate dealer photos. This is one I pulled out of a lot!) Manuel-Ducas-Despot-Trachy.jpg
     
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  3. ancient coin hunter

    ancient coin hunter 3rd Century Usurper

    Interesting coin. Also Welcome to CoinTalk.
     
    +VGO.DVCKS likes this.
  4. The Trachy Enjoyer

    The Trachy Enjoyer Well-Known Member

    Thanks!
     
  5. dougsmit

    dougsmit Member

    Usually trachy coins were struck twice rocking the dies between strukes and producing many poorly aligned doublestrikes. Is this an example of one that was not struck the second time?
     
  6. The Trachy Enjoyer

    The Trachy Enjoyer Well-Known Member

    I think it may have been struck "flat" so to speak. This is common with trachys and on my example, you can see how the top and right of the obverse are essentially unstruck
     
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  7. BenSi

    BenSi Well-Known Member

    In the 12th century you are correct on the two strikes without question but I see evidence that the practices began to change in the 13th century and the copper trachea began to get smaller and much cruder in design. One strike became the lazy norm. Just an opinion.
     
  8. The Trachy Enjoyer

    The Trachy Enjoyer Well-Known Member

    Yes, quality certainly dropped in 1204 onwards
     
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  9. BenSi

    BenSi Well-Known Member

    Another example of one strike, the metal was so thin I do not think it could have survived two.

    The coin is currently unattributed but enough is there to do the job.
    c3.jpg
     
  10. The Trachy Enjoyer

    The Trachy Enjoyer Well-Known Member

    Thessalonica. Small module. Obv: Christ Pantokrator seated facing on throne. Rev: St. Helena and St. Constantine standing facing, holding between them a patriarchal cross. Sear 2049 (Constantinople); LBC 125-6
     
  11. BenSi

    BenSi Well-Known Member

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  12. The Trachy Enjoyer

    The Trachy Enjoyer Well-Known Member

    Thanks!
     
  13. tenbobbit

    tenbobbit Well-Known Member

    Not an area i collect but, many moons ago i purchased a large group of coins which included some Trachy.
    I did manage to ID them once but have since lost the info.
    Pretty sure the first one is Manuel & at least 1 other is an " Angelus "
    I could be wrong though ;)

    IMG_5690.JPG IMG_5691.JPG IMG_5692.JPG IMG_5693.JPG
     
  14. BenSi

    BenSi Well-Known Member

    Your are missing the other sides but all are attributable from one side alone.

    1. Manuel ( SBCV-1966)
    2 Alexius III ( Need other side to know what variation.)
    3. Isaac II 1st rule SBVV-2003)
    4. Alexius III ( Again , need both sides)
     
  15. The Trachy Enjoyer

    The Trachy Enjoyer Well-Known Member

    Beat me to it!
     
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  16. Pavlos

    Pavlos You pick out the big men. I'll make them brave!

    Interesting trachy. I got quite some recently, but this is my latest one:

    upload_2021-2-18_9-32-58.png
    From Michael VIII Palaiologos, quite nice for the type. Latin and post-Latin trachea are generally quite crude.
     
  17. The Trachy Enjoyer

    The Trachy Enjoyer Well-Known Member

    Indeed! That trachy has an excellent style, perhaps an earlier issue of Michael VIII? Style seems to become less realistic on coinage as the Palaeologan dynasty progresses which probably coincides (at least somewhat) with the resurgence of art in late Byzantium https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Palaeologan_Renaissance
     
  18. Nice coins, It seems like a good idea to post one of my un-id'd trachys in this thread, this one is Latin, no bigger than 16mm. 148980231_429792795141563_3820843298591363601_n.jpg 151468187_256659392567268_6324279678223253250_n.jpg I know the reverse is tough, but I can't get a good pic of it for the life of me. It's a weak but all there jesus with the IC XC iconography. If you could help that would be great, it's a nicer one with a legend
     
  19. ancient coin hunter

    ancient coin hunter 3rd Century Usurper

    Welcome to CoinTalk Juan Nine!
     
  20. The Trachy Enjoyer

    The Trachy Enjoyer Well-Known Member

    Sear 2022; DOC IV, Type B, pl XLIX 2; LBC 26-34
     
  21. Thank you both!
     
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