I have this Maurice Tiberius follis that, ever since I got it, have been wondering what the seemingly-random letters are all about. I'm pretty sure they are supposed to make up his name, but why would they just look like mixed up letters? It's from Antioch, IMO one of the best mints in the late Roman and Byzantine Empire, so I doubt they would just been putting random assortments of letters without any meaning on their coins. My only guess is that it is a combo of Latin and Greek letters. Thanks for any help I can get on this. Maurice Tiberius Obv: Garbled legend (nITNNC ~ - ~ TIAITAPPIV?) , crowned and mantled bust facing, crown with trefoil pattern, holding mappa and eagle-tipped scepter Rev: Large M (40 nummi), with ANNO left, cross above, and regnal year in right field, THEUP in ex, Theopolis (Antioch) SB 532
Great coin, brotha!! I have an example as well, so if and when somebody in-the-know responds, then maybe we'll both be able to fill-in the blanks!!?
Oh-oh-oh => Read mine, read mine!! ... oh, but don't mention his "nose" (he gets very upset if you mention his nose)
Quoting Sear Byzantine under 532: "Legend normally a badly blundered form of the inscription of Tiberius II. e.g. piTINOC ~ ~ TIANTAPPIV, but less blundered from "year 8"." Your two coins are years 6 and 9 nd tend to suggest Sear had a clue. Mine is year 17 and you can read Maurice so is considered 533. I note that BMC and other older works gave 532 to Tiberius so the lettering has been a matter of discussion among scholars.
Any thoughts as to why they blundered the legend into nonsense in the first place? Perhaps the die engraver had a lot of trouble writing letters/words?
