Picked up a new Byzantine coin and would love to show you a few more... I know some of you have seen this before, love this coin. one of our coin club members,wanted me to have it, not many into Ancients, Guess what i paid for this great coin???? If you have some Byzantine coin, please post them up... Justinian l...527 - 565...AD.. AE Follis Yr. 12 Mint...Nicomedia.. Monster coin ....45mm x 22.22g
That giant M is for MONSTER!!! A beautiful piece, it is harder then you think to find really nice high grade large Byzantine coins. Your Avatar is among the best I have seen. That is also an exceptional OP coin. A powerful ruler, who survived the plague that was so names after him. He also made the Mediterranean Sea a Roman Lake after defeating the Vandals in Africa and the Visigoths/Ostrogoths in Europe. To bad after this ruler, darkness, ignorance illiteracy and barbarism was the norm in Europe.
Here's another large coin, my pic's for some of my coins are missing... Anastasius l ..491- 518..AD.. Ob. Diademed dr. cuir. bust right.. Rev. Large M between two stars,cross above.. Sandy green patina.. Mint.. Constantiople Monster coin..35mm x 18.79g..
Byzantine Empire Manuel.. Billion Aspron Trachy.. Cup coin.. 1043- 1080..AD.. Ob. Christ on a throne facing. Rev..Bust of Manuel facing , crowned, wearing chiamys and holding a laberum.. 28mm x 3.67g..Silvered
JUSTIN II AE Half Follis Nicomedia Romanus III Follis Constantinople (This one was a prize I won from Eng )
I am not a big collector of Byzantine but buy some when they appeal for some reason. I always like odd coins so I find appeal a few years after the OP coin when those huge M coins started diminishing in size on a regular basis. To keep up with changing standards many coins were trimmed to the new weight standard and overstruck with a new design. There are issues that are rather rare with no signs of being overstruck but some coins are easier to read than others. This Focas 40 nummi (XXXX) year IIII is struck over Maurice Tiberius year XIIII. Both are Constantinople mint dies. The clipped flan is obvious. My favorite is this Heraclius and son overstruck on a Focas (again both Constantinople) but there is a bold TIB at obverse left making me wonder whether that is what remains of a third type. It seems too bold to be the under-undertype but I can not explain it otherwise. I particularly like the way Focas' head appears peering over the bodies (crosswise the way I am showing it). These coins are messy, ugly and fun.
Here is a rare one: BYZANTINE. temp. Phocas. Circa AD 602-609. Æ 12 Nummi (11mm, 0.45 g, 7 h) Contemporary imitation. Unofficial mint in the Alexandria area. Stylized pearl-diademed and cuirassed bust right Large IB with cross between; AΛЄZ in exergue Hahn, A Byzantine Hoard from Egypt, 87-90 The production of coinage in Egypt during the early 7th century was a spotty and inconsistent affair. During this time, the need for small change was regularly filled by a hodgepodge of issues. Leftover late Roman denominations, Vandalic issues from Carthage, and official coinages from a variety of mints could all be seen in commerce. This piece would have been locally produced to supplement the supply. Although it bears a nominal value of 12 nummi, and is based off an earlier coin of that value, both its size and hoard finds indicate that it circulated at approximately the value of a nummus.
After visiting Istanbul and Justinian's great church, the Hagia Sophia, I had to get a gold coin of Justinian. Justinian - AU Solidus Obverse: Helmeted and cuirassed bust facing three-quarters to right, holding spear over shoulder and shield DN IVSTINI-ANVS PP AVG Reverse: Angel standing facing, holding jewelled cross and cross on globe, star in right field VICTORI - A AVCCC B (Oficina B) CONOB in exergue (Constantinople mint) Struck: AD 527-537 Size: 21mm Weight: 4.43gm Catalog: Sear 137
Well if you wish to get one, byzantine is your best area. Even with gold higher, many issues are still just a few hundred dollars. I have a few, and a few silver,(byzantine silver is rarer than gold), but have quite a pile of bronzes. Actually i just happened to count last week. Ignoring schyphates and uncleaned lots in piles, i have over 400 now. My problem is imaging,(i suck at it), and time,(1 year old at home and a bun in the oven). So i apologize for no pics. Btw, great justinian op. Nice wide flan, that is at a premium. Those used to be $50 coins, but have sure taken off like a rocket in the past five years!
Thank you medoraman, i would love to see your Silver Byzantine and Gold coins, some day when you have time, kids take up a lot of time and should..:smile
I suppose if I really wanted a gold coin, I could have had one. I saw a couple tonight at one of my new favorite seller that was at very good prices. My problem is that I can't make myself spend that much on one coin when I can own ten nice coins for the same price. Like I said, maybe one day. Just not now.
