a scarce Heraclius Seleucia, a neat Crusader, etc.

I've completed the follis type set (i.e. one of each respective Sear number) of both Seleucia Isauriae and Isaura, respectively.

Coins of Seleucia and Isaura, respectively, usually are in a lot fresher grade (VF or VF+) than other Heraclian coins. This one has too much smoothing for my liking, especially on the obverse - it's rather glossy in person, but it's a placeholder until a more natural one comes along. I strongly prefer the other (the two oversized busts) type, anyway.



Heraclius, with Heraclius Constantine. 610-641. AE Follis (8.36g, 27mm). Seleucia Isauriae mint. Dated RY 7 (616/7). Obv.: crowned and draped figures of Heraclius and Heraclius Constantine standing facing, both holding globus cruciger; cross between. Rev.: large M; Christogram above, date across field; B (officina); SЄLISЧ in exergue. DOC 181b; MIB 193; SB 845.

Sear lists officinae Alpha through Epislon. One usually sees A or B for sale.


Here's yet another example of Tancred, which shows that the object on his head is hair, and not a turban.

It's also a haunting portrait, rather reminiscent of a character from a famous bad movie; the Master from Manos, Hands of Fate. Cue the Torgo theme!

Principality of Antioch. Tancred. Regent AE23 Follis. Cross

Obv: Turbaned bust of Tancred facing, holding sword. KE BOHΘH TΩ ΔOVΛΩ TANKPI.

Rev: Cross pommetée with fleuronnée at base; IC-XC/ NI-KA across field and in quartiles of cross.

Metcalf 63-70. 1101-1103, 1104-1112 AD. 3.78g

 

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I really like collecting both series. Seleucia and Isaura are slightly scarce mints (although I'm sure officinae gamma through epsilon are probably quite rare). The coins of the early part of the Antioch crusader state are really affordable, although Tancred portraits are the only ones I'm really into.

Is Tancred the only Crusader to have a portrait on a coin? I seem to hazily recall there being some rare 12th century Cyprus portraits of another, but maybe I misremember.

Seleucia and Isaura were staging stops, on Heraclius' epic march to defeat Persia. I wonder why these seem to have fallen out of circulation faster than S 805 did? It's rather unusual to see them under VF. My VG Seleucia example (not shown) seems to have been an outlier.

Do you have any of Seleucia or Isaura?