eBay has a program of rebates that provided me with a gift certificate expiring August 1 so I went on the hunt for a coin I wanted to use this before that date. It always seems that the month when I have one of these quarterly bonuses will see less I want posted. One quarter I bought a meteorite; another a photo accessory. This time I bought a coin I'm not sure I wanted. This is an AE26 follis of Byzantine emperor Michael VII 1071-1078 AD. I failed to research it before bidding so I missed that it was missing the legend identifying the emperor but I considered the facing portraits worth the price minus the coupon. I previously had only one coin of Michael VII and the interest to me of this new one is largely the comparison of the two. The cup shaped gold and flat bronze have rather similar reverse portraits of Michael VII but I might say the old has a bit of a nasty attitude on his face while the bronze seems a bit bored. The oddity in my eye is the difference between the obverse portraits of Christ. The gold has the skinniest Christ I've seen while the bronze has a face shape rather like the emperor's on the reverse. I really like the Christ face on the bronze better than the gold. That brought up the research question as whether there is any pattern to be found with the divine features being made to resemble the ruler or if this is just a random matter. Some will insist that late Roman and Byzantine portraits were not realistic. Perhaps, but I see way too many patterns, often unique to one mint, for us to write all this off as sloppy workmanship. Post your coins with Christ and a ruler whether or not they look like each other.
What a fantastic image of your cup-shaped coin! Those are not easy to capture. Hmm, coins with Christ and a ruler? I may have a few but the only one with images right now is this: John II Comnenus, CE 1118-1143 BI tetarteron, 16x18 mm, 4.1 gm Constantinople mint Obv: IC-XC; Christ, nimbate, standing facing on footstool, wearing pallium and colobium and holding book of gospels Rev: IW DECPOT TW POPQVPOGNT, John, crowned, standing facing, wearing divitision and jewelled loros, holding cross-headed sceptre and cross on globe Ref: SB 1945
That's one of the most "interesting " Byzantine coins. I generally do not care for them, but this one's highlights are eye catching. Too bad about the legend though.
Nice coin. I like the bronze better myself. My only Christ coin. Bulgaria, Ivan Alexander and Michael (1331 - 1355 A.D.) AR Grosh O: Christ enthroned; monograms at sides. R: Ivan and Michael standing, holding banner; monograms at sides. 19mm 1.3g Metcalf SEE pl.8, 11; Dochev XXXII; Youroukova 72
I love both of those coins. Here's another portrait of Michael VII, from the Holy Crown of Hungary. I can't comment on the relationship of emperors' portraits to those of Jesus, but it is an interesting question, worth examining. Source From what I've read of Michael VII, he was more interested in scholarly pursuits than governing, allowing everyone around him to run the empire into the ground, which is exactly what would happen if somebody made me emperor.
Well, I'm not sure if this example of mine belongs in your cool new thread, but this poor coin seldom gets invited to show its humble face in public (kinda like that poor little princess from the Game Of Thrones who had that unfortunate grey-scale on her face ... very sad outcome for her, eh?) ... anyway ... => here is one of my two cup-coin examples ($29 bucks, delivered) Isaac II BI Trachy Date: 1185-1195 AD Diameter: 28.1 mm Weight: 3.5 grams Obverse: Mary, nimbate, seated, holding the nimbate head of infant Christ. Reverse: Isaac holding cross-headed sceptre and akakia, crowned by hand of God in upper right field ... aww hell, if I'm gonna let Isaac out of his pen, then I am forced to let his little friend tag-along (sorry, I'd never hear the end of it, if I didn't let poor lil' Andy hang-out with his coin album idol) Andronicus II BI Trachy Date: 1282-1328 AD Diameter: 24.2 mm. Weight: 1.5 gr Obverse: Six pointed star. Reverse: Andronicus flanked by two large B ... amazingly, this coin was also $29 bucks, delivered (I must have done a package-deal? ... I can't recall the details of this sweet transaction) ... regardless, I feel that it was money well spent!! Similarly, Doug => I love your new coin-addition (congrats, mentor) ... oh, and I love your original gold cup-coin version even more!! (very sweet coins)
I know who I'm rooting for. I understand there are two more books after A Dance with Dragons so maybe the author does not know who wins.
Every time I look at the follis, I grow to like it more and more Doug. You're absolutely right! All you can do is read his reply!
=> my wife has read all of the books (she is amazing and never gives me hints on what's gonna happen) ... she tells me that the show is straying a bit from the books in a couple of story-lines from time to time (she reads ... I do this coin thingy ... we both love the show ... *priceless*)
in think that's a pretty nice lookin' byzantine coin DS. one of the type is on my to get list....so i'm quite sure i'd want it. here's the first pic i ran into of Christ and a ruler...st. mark in the mix also. Italian States-Venice, Antonio Venier as Doge,1382-1400, AR Grosso ANTO . VENERIO-. S . M . VENETI . St. Mark and the Doge standing facing, holding pendant flag between them, D / V / X in center field * | * across fields . + . TIBI . LAVS-. 7 . GLORIA . Christ, nimbate, enthroned facing, holding book of Gospels
