I collect anonymous follis next to my Ancient Greek collection, however, other Byzantine coins with Jesus Christ on it are always welcome in my collection as well. That is why I picked up this trachy, I know nothing about it and this is my first trachy as well, help from Byzantine experts are appreciated a lot. I think it is from Manuel I, could that be right? 3.30g; 30mm. Also, could someone explain why the trachy substituted the follis? and why it is so weirdly shaped? I am really interested knowing that. Thank you!
Yes you are correct. Here is mine just taken with a cell phone. I have a guess that they preferred the style of a cup shape. I did a write up on these here.
The lettering on the reverse seems to be MANUHA D EC P OTH, Q V at top right with figures of Virgin on right and emperor Manuel (?) on left Obverse: Christ seated facing on backless throne, wearing nimbus cruciger, pallium and colobium, holding book of Gospels (?); IC-XC (Jesus Christ), flanking; Is it silver or gold?
My only Trachy: BZ Manuel I Comnenus 1143-1180 CE Aspron Trachy 35mm 4g Christ Gospels Labaran globus cruciger Virgin maphorium SB 1966 scyphate
Sorry, I was reading the lettering on the one posted by @David@PCC The lettering on the OP by Pavlos is worn. I have one pretty much worn Electron Aspron Trachy (Scyphate) from Isaacus II Angelus, : Constantinople, 12 Sep 1185 - 8 Apr 1195 AD Ref.: Sear 2002; Sommer 65.4.3; Obverse: MP-ΘV, the Virgin enthroned facing, nimbate, wears pallium and maphorium, holding head of infant Christ Reverse: ICAAKIOC ∆, Θ (between heads), X/AP/X/M (on r.), Archangel Michael, standing nimbate on right in military attire, scepter in left, crowing Isaac with right; Isaac standing on left wearing divitsion and chlamys; cruciform scepter in left, akakia in right Scyphate is a term frequently used in numismatics to refer to the concave or "cup-shaped" Byzantine coins of the 11th–14th centuries. The debasement of the electrum trachy began during this reign, and some specimens (such as this) are so pale as to have the appearance of silver. nimbate: with a nimbus; pallium: a large, rectangular mantle worn by men in ancient Greece and Rome; maphorium: (μαφόριον) a garment covering the head and shoulders, mentioned in papyri of the 4th–6th century); divitsion: tunic; chlamys: originally a complete cloak, but here a long narrow piece embroidered and jeweled; akakia: a cylindrical purple silk roll containing dust, held by the Byzantine emperors during ceremonies, and symbolizing the mortal nature of all men.
It did not, here is the thought of the breakdown from the coin reform. It was worth more than a follis, it is thought the billion tetartera were the equivalent to the old follis, but also remember by this time the follis was much smaller ( 5gm) than 100 years earlier ( 15gm)
