Masterpieces in Eastern Roman Empire coinage (Byzantine)

Wayne Sayles Ancient Coin Collecting Volume V has a wonderful selection of coins that he believed to be Masterpieces in Eastern Roman Empire Coinage (Byzantine.) Its an impressive set of pages to end his book and in reading I really wanted to own those coins. Now I do have 3 of his 15 choices, not perfect but I appreciate the artistic merit. Now I have taken several of his choices (From my collection) and added a couple of my own choices.

I think this would be a great post for collectors to show off your gems of a Byzantine collection. Please Post your favorite of Eastern Roman Coinage (Byzantine.)

Romanus IV 1068-1071 AD

Bronze Follis SBCV-1866
27.2mm
7.81gm


My next one came right off of Wayne's list. In the Eastern Roman era, Deity's were replaced by Saints, this one was a good fighting Saint. St George.

John III Ducas 1222-1254 AD

AE Tetarteron SBCV- 2116

20.98mm
2.6gm​

My next one is a beautiful rendition of the Virgin Mary, who was the divine Protector of Constantinople. We are uncertain who issued this coin but it was late empire.

Anonymous (Magn.)
AE Tetarteron – SBCV-2154
20mm
2.61gm


And last is one of Wayne's choices, just a beautiful design. Fleur-de-lis ( Lily) was said to be the Symbol of the Archangel Gabriel.

Theodore II (Magn.) 1254-1258 AD
AE Tetarteron SBCV-2145
18.57mm
1.9gm


All of these coins are mid to late empire, their are so many other awesome coins, please feel free to share yours.

 

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Here is a nice anonymous follis of Class D:



Sear 1836. 30-26 mm. 12.38 grams
Attributed to Constantine X, 1059-1067.
Most of these are double struck or overstruck. This one is nicely centered and has most details remaining. (For more about anonymous folles, see:
http://augustuscoins.com/ed/ByzAnon/ )


A smaller coin, only 19 mm. Denomination: tetarteron.
John III of Nicaea, 1221-1254 (while Constantinople was under control of the Crusaders).
Bust of St. George facing, holding spear and shield
Full-length figure of John III, holding labarum and anexikakia ("The anexikakia (also called akakia) was a purple silk roll containing dust, held by the ByzantineEmperors during ceremonies to remind him of mortal nature of all men (including himself)." [Quoted from the Forum website.]

Sear 2116. DO IV.II John III, Magnesia mint, 58.

It is hard to say late Byzantine coins can be beautiful, but in context, and especially in comparison with other coins of the period, some stand out as of remarkably high quality "for type." When a coin comes in the mail and I don't immediately show it to my wife, she sometimes asks "Is it really nice, or just nice 'for type'?" If the coin is Byzantine, pretty often the answer is the latter.

 

That is an understatement, it is beautiful.

 

Beautiful coins BenSi. I have a small collection of Byzantine coins. I am awful at attributing them but I really appreciate their history and style. I also have one with St. George but I believe mine is from Manuel I rather than John III.

Manuel I - Thessalonica - SB 1975
22x20mm, 4.8g

 

Mine's a bit worn but I still like it. Attributed to Romanus II, I believe





The ethereal nature of the portrait of Christ comes through. I also like reading about Christological controversies and the Iconoclast/Iconodule struggle.

 

That's a nice (for type ) tetarteron.

The name of the emperor is usual clear on Roman coins and less so on late Byzantine coins. However, yours is good enough to read. From 7:00 on the reverse your coins reads "MANVH ..." (the "H" is an eta, a Greek version of E) so it is Manuel.

Mine reads to the left of the standing figure on the reverse
IW (bar above, indicating an abbreviation) for John (Iota Omega)
ΔΕ
ΠC (for "Despot")

 

Justinian II half follis overstruck on 1/4 of a follis of Constantine IV (Sear Byzantine 1262 plate coin)


Constantine VII & Romanus II fourree solidus gold over silver


John VIII AR stavraton (half hyperpyron)


Anonymous A3 follis overstruck on Gordian III as (~1020-240= 780 years)

 

I have always loved your John VIIIth but that A3 should be in a Numismatic Version of Ripley's believe it or not. Remarkable coin Doug.

 

Here are a few more coins from Wayne Sayles' Masterpieces of Romaion Coinage:

Byzantine Empire: Justinian I (527-565) Æ Follis, Constantinople, RY 13 (Sear 163; DOC 38b; MIBE 95a)

Obv: D N IVSTINIANVS P P AVG; Helmeted and cuirassed bust facing, holding globus cruciger and shield; cross to right
Rev: Large M; date across field, cross above, B below; CON in exergue
Dim: 37mm, 22.61 g, 12h




Byzantine Empire: Maurice Tiberius (582-602) Æ Follis, Antioch (Sear 533; DOC 165a; MIB 96)

Obv: Bust of Maurice Tiberius facing, wearing crown with trefoil ornament and consular robes, holding mappa in his right hand and eagle-tipped scepter with his left
Rev: Large M between A/N/N/O and X/III; above, cross; below, A; in exergue, THЄЧP'
Dim: 29 mm, 11.39 g, 5 h



One of my favorite coins is, unfortunately, damaged:

Empire of Nicaea: John III Ducas-Vatazes (1222-1254) Trachy, Thessalonica Mint (Sear-2124; LBC 445-47)

Obv: AP X/M in field; Bust of St. Michael nimbate, wearing divitision, and panelled loros of simple type; right hand hold sword, resting over shoulder; left hand holds globus cruciger
Rev: IШ ΔЄCΠOTHC in two columnar groups. Emperor seated upon throne without back wearing stemma divitision and jeweled loros of traditional type; right hand holds scepter cruciger; left hand holds anexikakia; In left field, an outstretched wing; Manus Dei in upper right field

 

I have a question @dougsmit - how exactly can you tell it's an As of Gordian III? I keep looking at it but haven't figured it out. Thanks in advance.

 

Great coins everyone! I will throw in some of mine....
1/ Justin II
2/ Constantine V
3/ Nicephorus I
4/ Basil II "The Bulgar Killer"
5/ Constans III and "Three Sons"
6/ Theodosius IV
7/ Justinian I "The Great" only on account of Belisarius

 

Unfortunately, this area is not my bailiwick. However, I have a few that I think are cool.


BZ Manuel I Comnenus 1143-1180 CE Aspron Trachy 35mm 4g Christ Gospels Labaran globus cruciger Virgin maphorium SB 1966 scyphate



BZ Andronicus II - Michael IX AD 1295-1320 AR Basilikon 22mm 2.1g Constantinople Christ enthroned - Andronicus l Michael r labarum DOC V 1 Class VIII

 

This photo rotates the obverse 1/8 turn to favor the Gordian face.

To me the face is obvious but there is some legend here and there if you wiggle the coin under the light. On the reverse, I was able to convince myself I could see letters AET which could be either of two Gordian as reverses. Since only one of them was used with the obverse legend I see here with PIVSFEL lined up with the nose, I decided which I thought it was. I am not saying that I'm right on the reverse but that face is Gordian III. I wanted to buy an as to match but asses are harder to find so I bought a sestertius. The layout is very similar.


I could be wrong. I don't think I am.

 

Awesome collection of Gold.

 

Love these coins....
Byzantine Empire
Anatolia, Nikomedia
Justinian (r. AD 527 - 565)
AE Large Module Follis (40 nummi)
43 mm x 23.78 grams
Obverse:Helmeted and cuirassed facing bust, holding globus cruciger and shield; cross to right - DNIVSTINI ANVS PP AVC
Reverse: Large M; cross above, date across field; ANNO left field, X/II/I right field - NIK in ex.
Ref: SB 201
Note: Dated yr. 13 (AD 539/40), Large planchet. Superb. Gorgeous perfect Green patina, slight doubling of the "M"

 

Thank you - now I see it. A pretty cool catch!

 

Another Gem, Not my time period but when I saw it , I had to have it.

Byzantine, Leo V and Constantine 813-820 AD, AE Follis, SBCV - 1635

OBV Facing Busts of Leo on l. and Constantine

REV Λ K ( Initials of Leon and Konstantine ) Cross above

3.86gm and 22.4mm

 

43 mm! Show that next to a US quarter and its huge size will be obvious. I love it!

 

There are very few byzantine coins that have found there way into my collection - not confident in attribution of either of the two below. I am certain that neither of these are appropriate to include in a thread that starts with "Masterpieces..."

Byzantine Empire: a 1.8g decanummium of Phocas 602-610 AD

Obv (right image): d N FOCA NE PE AV. Phocas (left) and Leontia (right) standing facing; the emperor holds globus cruciger, the empress holds cruciform sceptre; between their heads, cross.
Rev (left image): Large X between ANNO - II; cross above; beneath, P.

The second one is less clear to me what it is. A small coin of only 0.7g, there is a tetarteron of Alexius I in Seaby Byzantine Coins and their Values (S.1932) that looks somewhat like this one? 1081-1118 AD?