Featured The trouble with t̶r̶i̶b̶b̶l̶e̶s̶ trachys

How awful... I know we'll do everything in our power to get them back where they belong. I hope it's possible to put photos of the individual coins online so we can check what we buy.

 

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Please help me with identification of this trachy:

 

I am not sure whether yours is a Byzantine or not as Bulgarians tended also to strike some similiar coins somehow around 1150-1300.

But perhaps it could be Isaac II Angelos(1185-1195), Sear 2003:



But your coin looks so "wrong" that I will not be surprised if it turned out to be a Bulgarian or a Latin coin.

Don't rely on my judgment solely.

 

My Best, I have had it for years.

Isaac II SBCV -2003

Virgin Nimbate, wearing tunic and Maphorion, seated upon a throne with back holds nimbate head of Christ on breast.

REV Full length figure of emperor, wearing stemma divitision collar piece, jeweled loros of a simplified type and saigon; holds in r. hand scepter cruciger and in l. anexikakia. Manus Dei ( Hands of God) in upper r. field.. Emperor holds a patriarchal cross on shaft.

 

I am out of practice with trachea but this appears to be Theodore Mancaphas. The deep cup was first clue and the legend matches. DOC IV has a listing of the coins known, very rare. He was Usurper in Philadelphia 1188-89 AD. You did not list size, DOC had listed 4 examples from 27mm to 31mm (info on page 396 )

 

@BenSi is absolutely correct! What an outstanding find! It is extremely rare. Here is one that sold recently on CNG:




Theodore Mancaphas. Usurper in Philadelphia, circa 1188-1189 and circa 1204-1206. Æ Trachy (29mm, 3.03 g, 12h). Struck 1188-1189. Christ Pantokrator standing facing on dais / Theodore standing facing, holding cruciform scepter and placing hand on hilt of sword. DOC 2; SB -. Good VF, reddish-brown patina. Some striking weakness and minor metal flaws on obverse, otherwise a quality example of this seldom offered type.

Property of Princeton Economics acquired by Martin Armstrong. Ex Classical Numismatic Group XXXIV (6 May 1995), lot 417.

The coinage of Theodore Mancaphas was first published in 1967 - although unattributed - and has been assigned to various rulers since (see DOC pp. 393-395 for alternative attributions and Philip Grierson’s sound rejection of them). Indeed, we are explicitly told by the contemporary historian Nicetas Choniates that Mancaphas struck coinage with his name and image (although he states, surely incorrectly, in silver - with only electrum and highly debased billon issues surviving today).

The reverse legend, particularly clear on the current specimen, can be expanded to Θεόδωρος Βασιλευς Μαγκαφας. The use of basileus in place of despotes is remarkable for the time. Mancaphas (from the Turkish mankafa [“crazed”] was the (unflattering) family name of the usurper, one that his opponents must have found to be entirely fitting!

 

Theodore the Crazy! Awesome find, @gogili1977!!!

 

Unfortunately, that trachy was offered to me in February, but I could not identify it, so I gave up buying. If I had this information in February, I would buy it for about 50 eur.
Here are some of the trachy I have in the collection:
1. Manuel I 1143-1180, AE trachy

2. Isaac II Angelus 1185-1195, AE trachy

3. Alexius III Angelus 1195-1203, AR trachy

Thanks for information. I learn something new.

 

Don't feel bad, The one you passed on was holed and the obv not recognizable, i personally would not have paid much more than the asking price. I believe their are alot more out there.

 

Last year I bought an old collection at auction, I was interested the tetartera it contained, however it came with many trachea, this weekend I was going through them to see if any rare or just attractive was in the lots. Here are a few of the favorites.
Andronicus I - SBCV 1985, not rare but nice one with a good legend.
Alexius III- SBCV 2011, I just love the green patina.

 

Please help me with identification of this trachy:

 

I agree with Mr Bendall's theory of multiple rocking strikes for Byzantine coins. However, there is another way to strike these, and evidence some like the Latins made them another way. A friend who strikes medieval style coins experimented a lot with these shapes. The easiest way to replicate them is flat dies and then punch one side inwards. Indeed, there are coins with a flat spot in the very center of Latin coins for no apparent reason. So I think we are looking at multiple technologies here at different times.

Btw, I use 2.5 x 2.5 flips and boxes for these. The extra size takes the pressure off the coins nicely versus 2x2's.

 

I’d say it’s a SB 2012, so the ruler is Alexius III (1195-1203).

 

Thank you Milesofwho, it is not clear strike.

 

You’re welcome.

 

I have written some time ago a short article about the so-called Mankaphas coin and the controversy around it. My personal copy of the article was posted here: https://www.academia.edu/31206824/Theodore_Mankaphas_or_Theodore_Branas

 

That is an interesting article, you put up a nice argument but I thought documents translated stated that Mankaphas had issued coins, I don't recall where I had read it. I know that does not help until I find the reference, I will contact you when I find it.

 

Found one reference. Got to page 184. I think the note that he had minted coins kind of sways the coin to Mankaphas , however it is based off one translated note.

In the case of Theodore Mangaphas, his minting activity is reported by Niketas Choniates, who informs us that the rebel struck silver coins bearing
his own inscription. Mangaphas’ coinage, however, remained unknown until 1970, when a group of crude billon or copper stamena was brought to light.


https://www.academia.edu/25011953/P..._Sad_Quarter_of_a_Century_Athens_2015_179-194

 

The controversy that I point out is also resumed in the source you mention (p. 185), but the strongest argument in favor of Mankaphas is the presence of these coins in hoards that are generally dated before 1200/1205, rather than the mention by Choniates (who has probably never seen the coins he mentions). And while the common wisdom today points towards Theodore Mankaphas, it is interesting to remember that this is still a somewhat conventional id, picked as most probable from a couple of others, Branas being another possibility and an intriguing one for its implications.