This is a follow-up to my previous post and includes my top ten coins that came from several group lots I purchased this year. The overall cost of each coin ended up being anywhere from $2 to less than $10. Another indication that you don't need to spend big bucks to get some valuable coins. Some of these coins are extremely rare to scarce: 1. Latin Rulers of Constantinople: Anonymous (1204-1261) BI Large Module Trachy, Constantinople (Sear 2056; DOC IV Type B; Grierson 1263; CLBC 11.24.1) Obv: IC XC in field; Columnar legend O/ЄM/MA on left, NϪ/HA on right. Bust of Christ Emmanuel, bearded (sic) and nimbate, wearing tunic and kolobion, blesses with right hand in front of chest, and holds Gospels in left Rev: Full-length figure of emperor wearing stemma, divitision, collar-piece, and chlamys; holds in right hand labarum-headed scepter, and in left, globus cruciger 2. Empire of Nicaea: John III Ducas-Vatazes (1222-1254) Æ Trachy, Magnesia (Sear 2108; DOC IV, Type T 54; Lianta 259-60) Obv: Full-length figure of St. George nimbate, wearing short military tunic, breastplate and sagion; right hand holds spear resting over shoulder; left hand holds shield resting on ground. B B in field Rev: IШ/Δ/Є to left, OΔϪK on right; Emperor seated upon throne with back, wearing stemma, divitision, jeweled loros of simplified type and sagion; right hand holds sword; left hand holds sheath horizontally across knees 2. Empire of Nicaea: Theodore II Ducas-Lascaris (1254-1258) Æ Trachy, Magnesia (Sear 2143; DOC IV, Type C 11; Lianta 307-8) Obv: O AΓIOC ΘЄΟΔШΡΟC, in two columnar groups; Full-length figure of St. Theodore, bearded and nimbate, wearing short military tunic, breastplate and sagion; holds in right hand spear; holds in left hand, shield Rev: ΘЄΟΔШΡΟC ΔЄCΠΟΤΗC Ο ΛΑCΚAΡΙC or O ΔϪΚΑC, in two columnar groups; Full-length figure of Theodore wearing stemma, divitision, jeweled loros of simplified type and sagion; holds in right hand labarum on long shaft; holds in left hand, globus surmounted by patriarchal cross 4. Latin Rulers of Constantinople: Anonymous (ca. 1230) Æ Small Module Trachy, Constantinople (CLBC-11.36.3) Obv: Virgin nimbate, wearing tunic and maphorion, seated upon throne with back; holds beardless, nimbate head of Christ on breast Rev: Obscure circular legend; Emperor with rounded beard, seated upon throne without back, wearing stemma, divitision, and collar-piece; holds in right hand scepter cruciger, and in left, anexikakia Note that Marchev-Waachter only recorded one specimen in a private collection. Unfortunately, the obverse was not present, but it can be clearly seen here as a nimbate Virgin on a throne. Similar to the reference coin, the legends are obscure. 5. Latin Rulers of Constantinople: Anonymous (1215-1240) Æ Small Module Trachy, Constantinople (Sear 2044; DOC IV Type A, B.30; Grierson 1267; CLBC 11.3.1.A) Obv: MP - ΘV in upper field; Virgin nimbate, wearing tunic and maphorion, seated upon throne with back; holds beardless head of Christ on breast Rev: Circular legend ΜΑΝO-ΗΛЄCΠ or similar; Full-length figure of emperor wearing stemma, divitision, collar-piece, and chlamys; holds in right hand labarum on long shaft, and in left, anexikakia 6. Coinage of Uncertain Rulers (1204-1261) BI Trachy, Thessalonica? (CLBC 16.3) Obv: Full-length figure of Virgin nimbate, orans, wearing tunic and maphorion; holds beardless, nimbate head of Christ on breast Rev: Full-length figure of senior ruler on left, with short rounded beard, and of junior ruler on right, beardless, holding between them patriarchal cross on long shaft. Both rulers wear stemma, divitision, collar-piece, and jeweled loros of simplified type, and hold scepters12 viewsObv: Full-length figure of Virgin nimbate, orans, wearing tunic and maphorion; holds beardless, nimbate head of Christ on breast Rev: Full-length figure of senior ruler on left, with short rounded beard, and of junior ruler on right, beardless, holding between them patriarchal cross on long shaft. Both rulers wear stemma, divitision, collar-piece, and jeweled loros of simplified type, and hold scepters 7. Latin Rulers of Constantinople: Anonymous (1204-1261) BI Small Module Trachy, Constantinople (CLBC 11.23.3.A) Obv: IC XC in field; Christ, bearded and nimbate, wearing tunic and kolobion, seated upon throne without back; holds Gospel in left hand and bless with right hand in front of chest. Asterisk above cushion on throne, on both sides. Rev: Half-length figure of emperor with stemma, divitision, collar-piece, and paneled loros of simplified type; holds in right hand labarum-headed scepter, and in left, globus cruciger. Note that Marchev-Waachter only recorded one specimen in a private collection. It might be overstruck on an unknown host. The obverse of the coin needs to be further examined to determine if it is indeed the obverse of 11.23.3. 8. Byzantine Empire: Anastasius I (491-518 CE) Æ Pentanummium, Constantinople (Sear-29; DOC 26c; MIBE 39) Obv: DN ANA-STASIVS PP AVC or similar; Bust facing right with diadem, cuirass and paludamentum Rev: Large Є with pellet above and below central bar; to right Γ 9. Byzantine Empire: Justinian I (527-565) Æ Decanummium, Ravenna, RY 37 (Sear-326; MIBE 229a (Rome); Ranieri 393) Obv: Helmeted and cuirassed bust facing, holding globus cruciger and shield Rev: Large I; A/N/N/O - XX/XV/II across field; all within wreath 10. Pseudo-Byzantine: Anonymous (ca. 640-670) Æ Follis, Syria/Palenstine (Goodwin Type H; cf. Numismatik Naumann Auction 11, Lot 741) Obv: Facing imperial bust with long beard holding globus cruciger; heavily blundered legend around perhaps intended as INPЄR – BCONST Rev: M with Γ officina below and cross above, ANO – II/I/Ч either side; NЄO in exergue
Talk about bargain hunters! All under $10. And here I was thinking I'm a bargain huntsman. You win! You're the Orion of the CT Ancients forum!
Whatgreat looking coins you got for great prices. Those are some cool trachy, I really like them. The two Latin trachy are my favorites.
So awesome to see an all-Byzantine list! Might we hope one day to see a website on all you learned delving into the trachea? Anastasius AE nummus, issued c. 491-498
Lucky I am to be already seated, I almost fall off my chair : less than 10 bucks average !!!! A great selection, to say the least Q
