Scored a nice Hyperpyron from Naumann

AV Hyperpyron ND Philadephia Mint 4.12g. 24mm.
Michael VIII Palaeologus 1261-82AD
reverse: Michael VIII kneeling/ Archangel Michael presenting Gospels to Christ
obverse: Virgin Mary/ Within City Walls/ Six Towers
This is the best example I have ever seen, CNG had one almost as good, but had more wear on facial features, that coin realized $4750

 

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Stunning looking reverse, congratulations winning this amazing coin.

 

Very nice, love the reverse.

 

That reverse is fabulous! Another great addition!!

 

Thanks everyone!
Just for comparision here is the CNG coin I spoke about, it realized $4750US

 

I agree with the others, panzerman. That reverse is indeed extraordinary.

 

Excellent coin and a great addition to your collection.

 

I love the complexity of the reverse, beautiful work on the artisans part. Nice acquisition , Congratulations.

 

I thought they struck the proofs in San Francisco.

 

Thats a good one! I got the map, its in Western Turkey.

 

I know. It is one of the Seven Churches of Asia, if you collect Greek Imperial / Roman Provincials from the Bible.
Anyway,... religion aside... stunning coins, both, though yours is the nicer.

 

Thanks, it seemed Naumann had a small horde of these, the gold content seems higher then most that appear in auctions. The quality was outstanding to boot. Coins from the later Byzantine periods are usually of poor minting techiques, alloying, thus most have cracks, bad quality dies, resulting in mediocre coinage.

 

Have you checked them for die matches?

 

It seems that it' s a hoard of these and a hoard (or more) of Antioch crusader copper and silver floating around in the auctions and offers of some German dealers since last summer.

 

That would make sense. The CNG coin was the finest I had ever seen. These from Naumann, where exceptional in higher gold content, also quality. Wonder, how many coins in hoard? You gotta wonder what is still waiting to be found

 

By coincidence just got one too the other day, though not quite as nice as yours!

 

Congratulations, yours has really high gold content too! Where was your minted, they said mine came from Philadephia Mint.

 

I don't really know what the rationale for attributing this to Philadelphia is. That's a really wild theory but, who knows, maybe there is some basis. I've had these pegged as coming from Magnesia.... probably, though again just my guess, it has to do with the vertical MAΓ on the left. Both of these cities were under the control of Michael and launching points on their efforts to kick the Latins out.

So it would make sense for these coins to have been made in Constantinople, after its reconquest, rather than out in the boondocks. The Virgin superimposed over the city walls practically screams "Made in Constantinople" and he was, in any case, an emperor without a capital for only a year and a half before retaking the city. Yet, this type is very common. It doesn't make any sense to me. It's been a while since I delved into the nitty gritty of this time period so I'm probably missing a major point or two.