(Not my coin) Andronicus II Palaeologus with Michael IX. 1282-1328. AR Basilikon (2.00g, 22mm). Constantinople mint. Struck 1304-20 (or later). Obv.: Christ Pantokrator enthroned facing; sigla: • | • Rev.: Andronicus II and Michael IX standing facing, holding ornate labarum set on bifurcated base between them. DOC 517-24; SB 2402. Toned VF. I'm annoyed by something!: When I started for many years such coins (almost?) never appeared. But in the last 3-4 years such coins have been on auctions in large quantity and constantly. Correct me if I'm wrong. It almost feels like a big hoard was found in earth and thus such coins became common. Do any of you know why availability of the aforementioned coin has increased massively the last years? Discovering of a hoard full of Basilikons? In any case: Can you also provide other examples, where new hoards made rare coins very common? Thanks.
The big Levant hoard of Athenian tetradrachms and the influx of Alexander the Great Dekadrachms from Gaza are two examples I'm aware of. See this thread: https://www.cointalk.com/threads/‘w...-treasures-safe-at-home.407589/#post-24703841
My area is not Byzantine, but rather Roman Provincials, and the market for provincials has seen a sea change in recent years. It appear the on-line auction platforms (biddr, sixbid, etc.) have allowed a new business model in which it is economical to sell large quantities of lower-grade coins. For me, this has had real benefit as many rare (some previously unknown) types have been made available. Could it be you're seeing more of the type you point to simply because these budget-rate auctions are doing an end run around dealers show-trays?
Many many times over the years types have become common - Cleopatra VII the last few years - worn examples now going for a few hundred dollars or even less where before you could not find one that cheap. . A few years ago small electrum coins from Mytilene and nearby were all over the place, the prices went way down then it stopped and prices rose. Seleucid bronzes with fake light brown patina a year or so ago were available by the hundreds - some dealers are still selling these in large lots. Small bronze coins from Troas are still available in large lots, some quite nice. it could be a coincidence but it seems like a lot of coins are coming from the mid-east now and that is where wars are being fought. In the late ‘90’s there was war in Serbia and we had a huge influx of coins from the Balkans? Coincidence? I recall back during the Serbian war of an errant American bomb that revealed a huge hoard of Roman denarii - this from an east European friend. I do wonder if there is a connection. Im still waiting for the hoard of mint state sestertii to result in low prices. Some types do get more common - for some reason I see a lot of Caracalla sestertii with Securitas reverses. Why? And Diadumenian sestertii, while still very rare, are more common than years ago I think. I have heard that Balkan double portrait bronzes used to be rare before the east European influx. I could wish for a giant hoard of Titus colosseum sestertii to be found and dispersed - little chance of that! It would have to be both found and the government not finding out. there have been many other types that were offered then disappeared - the above is all I can think of now. But there many more.
Well, the Kakwayhid dinar jumps into my mind immediately. A hoard of 3000+ golden dinars found in the 1960s, most of 'em obviously fresh from the mint. Only very few outside this hoard have survived.
