Again I was able to pick up a couple of very small ae 4 size coins at the flea market. The one is another Theodosius I but this time the reverse has a chi rho on it. Also the reverse is the same otherwise as the earlier one I had posted. Despite the small size the reverse inscription is possible to read, SALUS REIPUBLICAE, somewhat scary if this is the kind of coinage that marks the state of health of the republic. The little Byzantine looks as though it just came out of the ground and is a bit of a mystery to me. I cannot see a mark of value on the reverse though it appears as the diameter of a ten or maybe a five nummia piece. I cannot make out any of the obverse inscription or the identification of the emperor. The reverse seems to have an ANNO and the numbers X LI It also appears to be struck over another coin which makes it hard to make out. Considering the little value of the coin, it seems pointless to have overstruck it. Any help on its further ID appreciated.
On the Byzantine, the year is XU or 15. Who reigned long enough to have 15. I can not make out the denomination mark but the Antioch mintmark is clear. I am away from books now so see who used that mint in that year and go from there.
Well in addition to Justinian I , Heraclius, Constans II, and Constantine IV come to mind, having reigned long enough to have an ANNO XU. The coin is quite flat and thin and the obtrusion of metal at one o'clock on the obverse would also seem to indicate a restriking. I can detect, barely, am image similar to an emperor and an associate or consort, perhaps the original coin. Also I see the post earthquake mint of Antioch on the reverse.
It looks double struck and the A/N/N on the reverse is what is remaining in high relief as part of the big I in a decanummium (at least that is my bet). I can also see the evidence of the double strike on the obverse with the circular border appearing halfway into the coin. that first strike must've been really off-center and a hard one, then repositioned and struck properly. Edit: Check out this top coin: https://www.acsearch.info/search.html?id=4889153 (appears I illustrated the wrong I shape. )
