Picked this up on a whim to learn a bit about Byzantine coins. I’m stuck trying to lock down the exact details. I can make out the BASILE and I suppose BASIL on the reverse. Any help or references are appreciated. Maybe SB1813 (6)? http://www.wildwinds.com/coins/byz/basil_II/sb1813.6.jpg
Here's a helpful article on Forvm: http://www.forumancientcoins.com/numiswiki/view.asp?key=Anonymous Follis and a virtual tray: http://www.forumancientcoins.com/numiswiki/view.asp?key=Anonymous Folles
Funny how Basil may have issued the coin we call Anonymous A2 and the coin clearly reads but the two 'Basil' words here are not his name but Greek for King of Kings under the first two lines reading Jesus Christ.
That's a pretty nice A2 follis and are fun to collect as well. I have only one that is in decent condition but has a choppy looking flan like a lot of them do, it seems like to me. Byzantine Empire, Anonymous AE Follis Class A2, Basil II and Constantine VIII (976-1028 AD) Obverse: IC-XC, Bust of Christ holding book of gospels. EMMA NOVHL Reverse: IhSuS / XRISTuS / bASILEu / bASILE on four lines, ornament below. Reference: SB 1813 Ex: Kayser-i Rum Numismatics +photo
Yeah, the reverse reads "Jesus Christ, King of Kings". I've got a couple of anonymous folles struck by Romanus. The obverse, of course, is the nimbate Christ, holding the gospels.
Great links! Very helpful thank you. Just learned something new today. Love that about ancients and this forum. Thanks Doug. After more info I thought I might have an A1, but then realized my dimensions are smaller because it’s so worn (23mm and 8.7g). A2 it must be!
