Featured The trouble with t̶r̶i̶b̶b̶l̶e̶s̶ trachys

CLBC 11.35.2 is just one specimen recorded, but rather similar to 11.20.2 at least as far as the reverse goes. Naumann has had 3 specs similar to the spec I posted, labeled Sear 2052 corr (from Mary to Nicholas on the obv and the rev saint IDed as John the Baptist, as per Grierson).

Are we sure that 11.35.2 even exists and is not rather a variation of 11.20.2?

 

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I would certainly agree with Seth on the specimen from Naumann via acsearch.
Really great coin.

That is one heck of a strike, great get.

 

We rarely see Alexius trachea but he was the one who started created concaved coinage in billion after the coin reform. They tend to be not pretty, on occasion they are but I don't have a pretty one yet( Just bought a SBCV-1918 from Roma that they graded aEF.) Here is one SBCV-1919 , they were struck quickly and the obverse of Christ is barely visible.



In contrast 80 years latter the designs got more complex and better examples appear in the market with regularity. I think this coin from Andronicus is a good example of a convex coin, The denomination is general was at its height for beautiful and nicely struck examples.

Here is a close up on the detail being crowned by Christ. You can easily see the double rings on both sides of the coin.

 

@BenSi you will most likely appreciate this one. One can read who that is like in an open book:

 

Interesting coin Seth, i am traveling for work so i cannot correctly attribute (no books) . At a glance i would guess Isaac Commenus usurper or a post 1240 ad ruler like John III.

 

It’s a trachy of Theodore Commenus-Ducas, who was the emperor of Thessalonica. The reference is SB 2168, and it was issued from 1224 to 1230. So, @BenSi, your general guess was correct.

 

As promised few days ago here is a very nice Bulgarian imm. of an Isaac Comnenus trachy. Finally got it photo-ed and processed. I picked it up in
2014, almost forgot about it until I ordered the CLBC book. I'm happy with the book. The line drawings are quite fantastic, they give the whole pic of what the coins would look like if perfect which we all suspect there is no such thing. However, it is a very valuable recourse. Val must have put his heart and soul into it's production. We owe him a large debt and many thanks. ​

 

OOPs, here are the attributions: DOC Vol IV, pl. 26, 2.11 and CLBC P 251, 10.2.1. 2.93 gm, 23x21 mm.

 

@Milesofwho got the Sear number right, further reference in DOC p.552, dating around 1229-1230.

 

Another one that lovers of late Byzantine trachea might appreciate ID-ing:

 

Andronicus II and Michael IX. Thessalonica mint. No Sear number. DOC 779. I like doing this because it serves as practice. Late trachies are where it gets hard to tell who issued it.

 

DOC 779 is 'cross inside halo' but this is 777 'large patriarchal cross'

Here's a real riddle wrapped inside a puzzle:

 

Here is an Alexius I, still beautifully silvered on the reverse. I had to tone it down to get the picture correct.

 

Well this thread inspired me to pick up an inexpensive example today..
Looking forward to getting it in hand and learning more about these interesting coins.
Sold as: Isaac II Angelos Billon AE30mm 4.3g Aspron AD 1185-1195.
Should be fun to investigate!

 

Time for a new puzzle, I'm sure you missed these:

 

No takers? Here is a hint: it is not an Imperial issue. It is also still quite controversial and it dates from just past the mid 14th century.

- no, it is not an Imperial bulgarian or serbian either
- no, it is not a "local variation" of an Imperial issue

 

Seems to be John and Alexius Asen Trachy, similar to mine below. I can make out a bit of the Virgin Mary/St. Demetrios, but the reverse is a bit fuzzy, so I can't be sure:

Tentative Attribution
Alexius and John Asen (ca. 1356) Æ Trachy (CNG 288, Lot 599; DOC BZC.1960.88.4989)
Obv: Frontal view of St. Demetrios orans between towers symbolizing a city
Rev: Two figures standing, Manus Dei above; three stars in field between figures

 

That's the one. Yours looks way better and distinguishable.

 

I am surprised you were able to identify that if you bought it in as an unidentified trachy! Kudos!

 

Another enigma...This particular coin came as unidentified. The so-called obverse seems to be similar to Sear 2368 but the reverse seems to be similar to Sear 2457. Below are the two reference coins, in described order:

Byzantine Empire: Andronicus II Palaeologus (1282-1328) Æ Trachy, Thessalonica (Sear 2368; DOC 841-44; Lianta 695-96)

Obv: Three-quarter-length figure of St. Michael, beardless and nimbate
Rev: ΔHMHT - ANΔ; Half-length figure of St. Demetrius, beardless and nimbate on left, and of bearded emperor; between them large patriarchal cross. Saint and emperor hold in right and left hand respectively scepter cruciger



Byzantine Empire: Andronicus II Palaeologus (1282-1328) Æ Trachy, Thessalonica (Sear 2457; DOC V 765; Lianta 810)

Obv.: Six-petalled flower.
Rev.: Three-quarter-length figure of Michael IX, beardless on left, crowned by Andronicus II, bearded. Michael holds in right hand scepter cruciger, and in left anexikakia. Andronicus holds in left hand scepter cruciger. Both emperors wear stemma, divitision, collar-piece and loros.



Here is a new variation. Note that there is still a piece of the legend attributing to Andronicus..