The Byziness continues... but now there's an issue

Bought another later Byzantine follis, one of the anonymous Jesus folles from the reign of either Romanus III (1028-1034) or Michael IV (1034-1041). On my phone it kinda looked like the obverse could be cleaned further, and the coin was at a low starting bid so I went for it. But looking at it on my comp I'm now not so sure that tan-colored stuff is dirt; I fear it may be exposed metal, probably from a harsh cleaning. I don't have it in hand yet and probably won't for a while and I know I could just simply wait for it but this has been kinda bugging me, so I am hoping to get opinions on what exactly it is, thank you.

(click the photo to enlarge)

 

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I like it (congrats, Jango)

... yah, it's pretty hard to determine if it's brown-crusties on coin, or whether it's worn right down to the juicy center? ... it looks like nice brown crusties (either way, it's pretty)

 

=> my only Jesus-example is this sweet ol' regular Anonymous Folles thang (Basil II & Constantine VIII) ...

 

I just happen to own a Romanus III (given to me by own of our own coin friends)

 

Great coins guys. As you can probably tell I've developed somewhat of an obsession with these 10th-11th century folles. Both of the coins posted by you guys I would pick up any day.

(anyone who has one they don't need I'll be glad to take it off your hands )

 

BTW its not Byzantine (but the style is def Byzantine-inspired), but of the few coins I have that depict Jesus on them this one is definitely the most impressive:

 

my guess would be it isn't dirt VK, I think it's a coin that's lost it's patina in large patches. the details are solid, it's a good coin of the type even if I'm right (and I may not be).

 

I believe the coin does have some small patches of exposed metal, it might not be as bad as you think. I think alot of the lighter areas that your seeing is where the patina was made thin by the cleaning and is thicker is other places.

I would still like to think its a good coin but IMHO I would have held out for one with more facial detail, but cheap is good.
Careful VK, you keep messing with Byzantine coins and you are going to get Byzantine fever and before you know it, you have to buy some Mongol and Iranian coins to go with them. I don't know exactly how the disease progresses but I bought a Byzantine coin and before you knew it I was covered in Trachies.

 

This is an example of Marcian...just about the time Eastern Roman became bizarre and 'Byzantine'...Hmmm, when would that precisely be?? Perhaps about the time of Justinian or afterwards??

As part of my 'Type' collection, I'm purchasing Byzantine examples up through medieval, colonial and modern times ( if young folks still consider the 1960's 'modern' and not the 'olden days' LOL)....Unfortunately, I can't yet properly photograph my seven or eight other Byzantine coins...including Justin, the 'Anonymous' issues and so forth..

Has anyone a superior portrait of Marcian...I have yet to run across one casually..

LOVE YOUR POSTS GUYS!!!

 

Nicer than my best Marcian (this one with its glossy surfaces was annoying to photograph):

 

Thanks all for the comments so far!

 

Oh yeah I have this other nice Marcian as well. I need to rephotograph it:

 

I think it's a really neat example!!! Tough to find almost any while browsing the usual places for purchase or bid....

 

I think bare metal too, but still a nice coin

 

It's got good character to it, even if it does have exposed metal.

 

I just downloaded a file file photo from purchase ...so I'm uploading it here......the others will have to wait until i get a decent digital camera. I'll leave the precise data for another time..

 

MZ asked about portraits of Marcian. When I saw this one at Baldwin's in London in 1983 I thought it was the nicest AE4 of Marcian I had ever seen. They also knew it was special, so it was not a bargain. However, I remain pleased with it because it still one of the nicest ones out there.



11 mm. 1.35 grams. RIC X 545.

 

I agree that Valentinian's Marcian is the best I have seen but yours is a Nicomedia mint with bold mintmark and not bad otherwise so I would consider it a special coin as well. No, it would not sell for as much but most of these you see are Constantinople. Mine is but you have to imagine 90% of the CON.

 

Well, i asked for 'superior' portrait issues of Marcian ...and lo and behold...

Fantastic coin Valentinian.... and Dougs example is great too---far better than the one I purchased.

This is one case where... 'be careful what you wish for, you may get it...' was a very pleasant experience ...