This is my other purchase, besides the ones seen in this thread (and this one). I’ve always liked this type, and it even ranks so highly as to be one of two Latin issues I deem worthy of an interesting design rather than a so-so redo of the same old types (@Quant.Geek has the other one, SB 2048). The Latin Empire was created after the Crusaders, called Latins by the Byzantines, conquered and sacked Constantinople in 1204. It had a troubled exsistence, with its first emperor, Baldwin I, being captured at the Battle of Adrianople less than a year after he was crowned. After ten years of success under Henry, Baldwin’s brother and the next emperor, the Empire’s fortunes slowly turned. His brother-in-law and successor, Peter, did not even reach Constantinople to claim his throne, but was captured by the Despotate of Epiros on the way. His wife Yolanda was regent for two years, until it was found out that he had died. Her son Robert I did no good for the Empire, losing Thessalonika to Epiros and suffering a defeat from Nicaea. His son Baldwin II was a minor at the time of Robert’s death, so John of Brienne was elected as regent-for-life. John was left with only Constantinople, but fended off a siege in 1236. He died the next year and Baldwin II took over Constantinople. The Empire had severe economic problems at that point, leading Baldwin to sell the rights to the County of Luxembourg, pawning the Crown of Thorns, and even handing over his only son to Venetian merchants as a pledge for loans of money. While scouting out Constantinople right before it was retaken, the Nicaean Alexios Strategopoulos noticed that the city was completely undefended. Baldwin II escaped from Constantinople, and claimants for the Empire lasted until 1383. Latin issue AE aspron trachy 1204-1261, 1.79 g, 21 mm. Obv. Archangel Michael standing. Rev. half-length bust of Christ facing. SB 2036. Slightly double struck. Flan break, clipped. Nice quality, with roughly half of Christ’s face on the reverse.
I don't know much about these coins, but that seems like a very sharp Michael you have there! Here is my only Latin Empire coin... Latin Empire of Constantinople. A.D. 1204-1261. small module trachy (21 mm, 1.8 g). Virgin seated upon throne / Emperor standing facing with labarum and orb. SB 2021. Constantinople.
Very nice trachy with a nice angelic strike! The Latin Empire trachae varies in many ways including size, and hence there are tiny versions of these types. I have been spending over a month cataloging various types in my collection and it is a daunting task. Requires a lot of research and patience and I have already discovered several new types that haven't been published. Here is one that you normally don't encounter: Latine Rulers of Constantinople: Anonymous (1204-1261) Æ Trachy, Constantinople (Lianta 103-106; CLBC 11.31.1) Obv: Full-length figure of beardless and nimbate saint wearing short military tunic, breastplate and sagion; right hand spear resting over shoulder; left hand holding shield; O/Δ/ΓI to left; O/C to right Rev: Full-length figure of emperor, wearing stemma, divitision, collar-piece and paneled loros of simplified type; right hand holds trilobate scepter; left hand holds globus cruciger.
Here's a Latin issue trachy minted during the Latin occupation of the Roman Empire. Note the full length figure of Archangel Michael on the reverse.
That will be no small task QG, the reason I started collecting late Eastern Roman coins was it was the road less traveled. Plenty of sources for Roman and Greek coins but with the late empire the knowledge was few and far between. However, I always found it extremely difficult to work with trachea , muddled images , poor strikes. My hat is off to you, you have started a difficult project.
Here is a Trachy issued a little before the Latin sack and occupation of the Queen of Cities. Notice the beardless portrait of Christ? Was He being portrayed in His beardless youth, or was this a beardless interpretation of His appearance as a grown man? Same deal with OP coin.
That is Christ Emmanuel, and hence is depicted as a young child. See Matthew 1:22-23: 22 Now all this was done, that it might be fulfilled which was spoken of the Lord by the prophet, saying, 23 Behold, a virgin shall be with child, and shall bring forth a son, and they shall call his name Emmanuel, which being interpreted is, God with us. Interesting to note that it was introduced by Manuel I and, probably, due to the similarity with his name... Byzantine Empire: Manuel I Comnenus (1143-1180) Æ Half Tetarteron, Thessalonica (Sear-1978; DOC 21) Obv: Facing bust of Christ Emmanuel, raising right hand in benediction, holding volumen in left Rev: Manuel standing facing, holding cruciform scepter and globus cruciger BTW, a lot of these Christian iconography is difficult for me as I am not a Christian, so I have to do A LOT of googling and reading to understand some of this stuff...
I hold similar sentiments towards why I started collecting Byzantine and what a task it will be to identify those trachies. Sear describes it as a pun on his name. That’s a very interesting perspective. Thanks!
Thanks, Ram! So it is Christ as a child, like in this icon: Really cool to know that Manuel introduced that portrait in coins. Also that Half Tetrateron is beautiful
