I just can’t help myself sometimes… Last winter I was browsing the bay sippin’ some beverages and came across a lot of coins in terrible condition. What did I do? I bought them… Well, it was only $20 for the lot and I love a pile of mysteries… usually. Anyway, still they sit and due to their condition and to the fact that I really don’t collect many Byzantine coins, I haven’t been able to get the motivation to dive into them. So why do I post… I’m hoping anyone who specializes in these coins may give me some promise here to get me going. I’m not asking for mass ID’ing. I’m just hoping someone, anyone with some knowledge could take a look and let me know if there is anything particularly interesting here. There are a few that are not Byzantine (I see you Gordian/Caracalla provincials), the photo is bad and the coins are bad… I can shoot individual ones if they’re called out. But help me get excited to dive into these ugly coins. What looks interesting?
Hi @+VGO.DVCKS, This web site has helped me with similar ids. https://www.byzantine-ae.info/ - Broucheion
[Edit: Sorry; sometimes I forget this part:] A terrific lot, @Orange Julius. You've obviously got a good eye, and good instincts. I've bought stuff on the same basis, knowing that I didn't know enough; when you do that, Sometimes, you win!!! This time, you obviously did. The ones that leap out at me are the three anonymous folles; second one on the top row, and first and last on the second. Those are late 10th-11th centuries, with readily identifiable (and datable) types, and corresponding reigns ...But I still have the bad habit of going to Wildwinds for these first; the storied Dumbartin Oaks website is a little intimidating in its sheer detail. Time to let other people here, that much deeper into than me, tell you what they know. ...No worries; they're here!!!
I see more interest in the four non-Byzantine and would start there with the ID process. I suggest you start with the two you already noted. The Gordian should be easy to get at least close.
@Broucheion, how did you even know I was (still) typing that last one? Marvels of Technology, Revisited. Many thanks for the link; bookmarked!
@Orange Julius that is a fun looking bunch of Byzantines! I especially like the 3rd from the right on the top row that looks like it has a pretty solid overstrike.
Second row, second from left is from Osroene (Edessa) in Mesopotamia. The dude in Parthian-style tiara is either Abgar VIII or Abgar X, and the Roman is either Commodus, Septimius Severus, or Gordian III. Sorry I can't be exact, but the Parthian tiara is catnip to me.
Thanks all so far. Your questions, comment and support are going to give me the jumpstart I need to get started. I wanted to get this post up… but have to go entertain a 2 and 4 year old that have already burned their mother out today. So, I’ll be on later tonight (maybe a bit between) after they finally sleep to follow up and post some of the individual coins called out. Thanks! Here’s at least one that I didn’t recognize and looked fun (in addition to some of the others you mention above). 18mm x 24mm, 3.23 grams
eBay! This was the winter pre-pandemic (Nov 2019 maybe?) when junk was still widely available at reasonable prices. Haha… this lot may get me $150 today! But most of these are really… really ugly coins. I just bought them for the opportunity to learn about them and for some attribution experience… but did I mention motivation is hard to come by with ugly coins you don’t recognize?
