Help ID a Large Byzantine Ancient.

I stepped out of my comfort zone and purchased another non-U.S coin. All I know is that it is from the Byzantine empire. All input is welcome!

 

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Justinian I, Antioch mint, AE 40 nummia, Sear Byzantine 220, Year 21/officina 2.

 

https://coins.ha.com/itm/ancients/b...31-gm-7h-ngc-xf-lt-smoothing/a/231947-63159.s.
I find Byzantine coins fascinating, but have yet to purchase one....

 

That was quick! Thanks.
Also what type of book do you use for ancients?

 

I think I have one of those. Nope, similar but not the same. What is this one?

 

Byzantine Coins And Their Values by David R Sear 2nd Edition

The .pdf versions (from Spink) aren't too expensive.

The magic man one is tougher. It's in pretty rough condition. It looks to have had bronze disease. I'd keep an eye out for fuzzy, bright green.

Weight and diameter would help considerably. My wild guess would be Maurice Tiberius, Nikomedia mint, Year 19.

I think I can just make out ..IKO beneath the M.

 

I take that back; I think it may be Constantinople. I guessed Nikomedia because of the bucket-head, but Maurice's Constantinople portraits were kind of bucket-y. Could be completely wrong, but Sear 494's my guess?

 

Thank you for the information. A friend gave some ancient coins to me and I haven't a clue to what time period they come from or what they are. They are in very rough shape, that's whey he gave them to me.

Here are some more:

 

I just don't know, it's just in such rough shape. The crude cuirass would suggest an early Heraclius. The rough surface just makes one unsure of which details are really there, of it's just my imagination.

 

The previous post refers to the 'Maurice Tiberius', which could be Justinian (but I don't see a cross in the obv. field) or an early Heraclius. The early Heraclii have wavy lines makingup the armor.

The other two are outside of my normal collecting. I have only the paper version of the Sear volume which covers the 380's, and it would tax my bad eye to look at it.

The top one looks to be an Antioch centenionalis (AE3) of theodosius I.

The bottom one, I'd guess a 3rd century Roman provincial. I'd guess Caracalla, but could be wrong. It could also be Gallienus. Size and weight are pretty important with ID'ing stuff.

 

These large Byzantine Folles from the 6th-7th centuries are really impressive and satisfying coins. A few of my favorites:



As @nerosmyfavorite68 noted, David Sear's Byzantine Coins and Their Values is the best single volume (you want the 2nd edition, revised 1987, reprinted multiple times at least to 2014; not the 1974).

A testament to its utility is that, despite enormous printings, used copies are still usually listed in the $50-80 range. (With patience you can usually do better.)



Incidentally, the bottom right coin in my photos is a "plate coin" on page 189 in that volume (Sear 882, Heraclius Follis, overstruck on Anastasius).

 

How cool! A nice Sear 882 was always on my bucket list. Here's mine.

 

Here's a decent-condition early Heraclius. The provincial mints had an evencruder /wavier cuirass.

However, I think I see more than one X to the right of the M, which would let out Heraclius. The thing's in such rough shape, I'm just not sure what's there and what's my imagination.

A size of 28mm-30mm and circa 10 grams would suggest Maurice or Heraclius.

 

The .pdf is $30-something,by the way, and is really cool to have for quick reference.

Annoyingly, Sear Roman Coins and their Values IV (and theImperators' one) doesn't seem to be available in .pdf.

Those are some really splendid examples, by the way, Curtis!

 

By the way, www.wildwinds.com is a halfway decent place for ID'ing stuff. The pictures are generally rather small.

 

Beautiful example -- perfect countermarks on both sides, one of the most perfect pairs I've seen! And beautiful green patina

 

You can find the Grierson, Dumbarton Oakes publications here:
https://www.doaks.org/research/publicat ... llection-1
https://www.doaks.org/research/publicat ... llection-2
https://www.doaks.org/research/publicat ... llection-3
https://www.doaks.org/research/publicat ... llection-4
https://www.doaks.org/research/publicat ... -dumbarton

all volumes are downloadable

 

Very kind of you. Your examples aren't exactly shabby, and your Justinians are better than any of mine. I bought it from a vcoins dealer, later to learn that it was ex: Rodolfo Spahr.

Sear 882 also brings up one of history's mysteries; why were pre-reform folles hanging around so long somewhere? Why hadn't they been melted down for new flans? Were they forgotten in a storeroom somewhere?

 

Thanks for the info. Since they are in such poor shape, I think I will just give them (and your comments) to a YN. Maybe they will peak some curiosity.