First Byzantine Cup Coin

For 2016 I have a goal of getting a bit more into Byzantines. My first of the year is a first as a whole, a Byzantine Cup Coin.

I know it's hard to get the obverse with a full portrait but this was within my budget and mainly got it due to being a bit heavier then the norm for him.


ISAAC II ANGELUS (1185-95 A.D.)
Billon Aspron TRACHY
O: MP ThV, The Virgin seated on a throne, facing. She holds a nimbate head of the infant Christ facing.
R: I/CAA/KI/OC DEC/PO/TH/C, Isaac standing facing, holding a cruciform scepter and akakia.
Constantinople mint, 1185 - 1195 A.D.
4.93g
SB 2003, BMC 19-31.

 

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Nice coin, seems to have more detail. I own no Trachys... They are interesting, however my only Byzantines are the 1st emperors from the transition from the Western Empire through its Fall.

 

We have shown the cup shape coins several times before. Also popular here have been the various anonymous Christ folles. One later section of Byzantine coins that gets little love is the late, flat bronze we call tetarteron. Many are crude and struck on ragged flans but they are part of the same system that brought us the cups. Last I heard, we did not know the relation of these to the other denominations (how many equal a cup???). I believe they were not silver bearing and were not issued silvered while cups are alloys like billon or electrum. (Confirm or deny?) To show how little respect these get, I have just one which I have had for 25 years and have learned nothing about. How's that for no respect? Sear mentions them as part of a reform in 1092.
Alexius I AE tetarteron 1092-1118 AD
Alexius facing / jeweled cross C-Φ, AΛ-Δ


I'd enjoy seeing other late Byzantine flat bronzes.

 

that's a nice example of a byantine trachy mat. i have several, i thought i had isacc ii...i really thought i did. i'll put him on the list...along with a tetareton.

here's my first cup, a fairly similar coin of mauel i...

 

Great OP-addition, Mat ... good luck on your 2016 Byzantine adventure

Ummm, pretty sure that I still only have these two Trachy examples ...

Isaac II BI Trachy (looks similar to your OP-example)
=> “or” Theodore 1, Nicaea
... I still haven't followed-up (I'm coin-lazy)

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




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



Oh, and that's a cool coin, Doug ... but sadly, I don't seem to have any of that coin-type (*rats*)

 

We dont see too many Hexagrams!

Heraclius and Heraclius Constantine
AR Hexagram 22.0 mm x 6.28 g
Constantinople mint. 610-640 AD
Obv. dd NN HERAKLIUS et hERA CONST Heraclius and Heraclius Constantine seated facing on double throne
Rev. Large DEUS ADIUTA ROMANIS Cross potent above three steps (God Help the Romans)
ref# S 798

 

Nice additions, everyone.

I have just some.


CONSTANTINE V (741 - 775 A.D.)
AE Follis
O: Two half-length figures facing, Constantine V on left, bearded, Leo IV on right, beardless, each wearing chlamys and crown with cross, holding in right hand akakia. Between heads, cross. To left, ; To right, ///
R: Half-length figure of Leo III facing, bearded, wearing chlamys and crown with cross, holding in right hand, cross potent on base. To left, ///; To right, ///
Syracuse
2.3g
19mm
S.1569


Alexius I (1081 - 1118 A.D.)
AE Tetarteron
O: Patriarchal cross on two steps, A-D, K-F to left and right, above and below.
R: ALEZI, crowned bust of Alexius facing, wearing loros, holding jewelled sceptre and cross on globe.
1g
10mm
SB1932 BMC 61*but*with a 'mirror image' reverse

 

I think it is more likely that yours is a Thodore of Lascaris than Isaac II.

Isaac II’s clothe is symmetric while Theodore’s is asymmetric. Furthermore my coin of Theodore has somehow the same brown patina as yours and the flan also is less “round” and more “square”.

My Isaac II and Theodore:





Here from wildwinds where the asymmetric clothe is more obvious:

http://www.wildwinds.com/coins/byz/theodore_I/sb2062_2.jpg

 

I have those two possibly flat Byzantine coins. The first is a Follis representing Emperor Heraclius and Empress Martina. The second is a half- Follis with letter K.

 

=> thanks for the comments, Herberto

 

Love Byzantine coppers and my gallery at FORVM is full of them. Here is one of the plate coins from DOC:

Byzantine, Empire of Nicaea: John III Ducas-Vatazes (1222-1254) BI Trachy, Magnesia Mint (Sear-2093; DOC 39.2)

Obv: Bust of Christ Emmanuel, beardless and nimbate, wearing tunic and kolobion; hold scroll in left hand. Pellets in each limb of nimbus cross
Rev: Full-length figure of emperor on left, and of St. Constantine bearded, holding between them patriarchal cross at the base of which, three steps. Emperor wears stemma, divitision, jeweled loros of simplified type, and sagion; holds labarum-headed scepter in right hand. Saint similarly dressed, holds scepter cruciger in left hand

Former Collection of the Money Museum, Zurich
Plate Coin from the Catalogue of the Byzantine Coins in the Dumbarton Oaks Collection and in the Whittemore Collection

 

That is a beautiful coin but the two photos show the crack very differently. Did the coin change (get pressed to flatten and spread the crack or is the new photo retouched?

 

I am pretty sure DOC touched the photos to close the gap when they photographed it years ago. The coin does have a gap that is similar to the new photo. It is not possible for it to split that wide as that area is somewhat flat. Furthermore, the new photo is touched a bit to remove the background and Gimp doesn't do a good job in detecting edges properly in comparison to Photoshop. I should probably re-do this image

 

Here is the original image before I touched it:

 

Very cool Byzantine examples guys!!!

 

Very nice!

 

Billon trachy's are a real area of opportunity simply because it takes time and the right reference's to understand them, and they get no respect. Sear is not even the tip of the iceberg for this series. DOC Volumes Four and Five, as well as Hendy's solo book Dumbarton Oaks Studies XII Coinage and Money in the Byzantine Empire 1081-1261 (1969) is also a great source. I got my copy from a library sale. It can be expensive.

A new book (relatively 2009) Late Byzantine Coins 1204-1453 by Eleni Lianta and published by Spink. Charlie Davis on Vcoins.com has them for sale for $30 plus shipping. That is a deal. Also here is a link for a free down load from . Great for your travels. Charlie also has Hendy's book for $145 plus shipping of course. Charlie is great people, I'm always looking at his site. I think I found one I NEED to order.

Regarding silvered trachy, yes they do indeed exist. I have attached several of my favorites. Choice examples are hard to come by. That being said, because people ignore them they are readily collectible and ignored. I have six examples from a hoard years back that are heavily silvered. I have some ideas as to how they were used.

Another series that is getting more popular (read more expensive) are Latin and Bugarian immiations. They are fun, so enjoy.

I hope this helps.

 

OOPS forget the link above it gets you a film clip. Here is the right way to go on this item, or go directly to Charlie Davis. Sorry I put it in I should have tested before.

 

If site manager can get rid of it please do.

 

This is the free* download link from the video:

http://readebook.bosebook.info/?book=1902040872

*Requires subscription to that ebook service, first month free.