Byzantine anonymous follis Class K, Alexius I, 1081-1118

Discussion in 'Ancient Coins' started by Valentinian, Aug 22, 2019.

  1. Valentinian

    Valentinian Well-Known Member

    It is hard to find some classes of Byzantine anonymous folles in excellent condition. I got this "Class K" as an upgrade because it had many of the large beads forming the border. If I see one with better facial features too, I may need to upgrade this one!

    SB1901ClassKAlexiusIn1983.jpg
    Alexius I, 1081-1118. 25-22 mm. 6.92 grams.
    Bust of Christ facing
    3/4 length figure of the Virgin Many, orans (holding her hands out like that)
    Both sides have a border of large beads.
    Sear 1901.

    I have a web site on Byzantine anonymous folles:

    http://augustuscoins.com/ed/ByzAnon/

    It has been mentioned on CT before. If you have any anonymous folles that didn't get posted back then, show them to us now!
     
    Last edited: Aug 22, 2019
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  3. David@PCC

    David@PCC allcoinage.com

    Despite being cut this one is a decent example.
    b195.jpg

    Don't think I've shown this one.
    b036.jpg
    Anonymous under Romanus IV
    1069 to 1071 AD
    AE Follis, Class G
    Obvs: IC XC, Christ raising right hand in benediction and holding scroll in left.
    Revs: MP OV, Virgin orans, nimbate and wearing pallium.
    25mm, 6.6g
    Ref: Sear 1867
     
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  4. Justin Lee

    Justin Lee I learn by doing

    Very nice, Warren and David!

    [​IMG]
    Alexius I Comnenus, Ruled 1081-1118 AD
    AE Class K Anonymous Follis
    Constantinople Mint, 1085-1092 AD

    Obverse: IC-XC to left and right of Christ Pantocrator, nimbate, bust facing, right hand raised, book of gospels in left, all inside border of large dots.
    Reverse: MP-ΘV to left and right of the Theotokos (Virgin Mary), three-quarter length figure standing facing, orans,, all inside border of large dots.
    References: Sear 1901
    Size: 26-29mm, 7.2g
    Ex: Barry & Darling Ancient Coins
    Notes: Overstruck on Class J follis (rare type).
     
  5. BenSi

    BenSi Well-Known Member

    Beautiful. Nice coin.
     
  6. dougsmit

    dougsmit Member

    I don't have a K that is clear. Most I see are overstruck (on J) and really a mess. At least the big dots help ID them.
    rz0580bb2179.jpg
     
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  7. Mat

    Mat Ancient Coincoholic

    Wonderful coin, Warren.

    My sad Alexius I, if it is since I got vague info on it in 2013.

    [​IMG]
    Alexius I (1081 - 1118 A.D.)
    AE Tetarteron
    O: Patriarchal cross on two steps, A-D, K-F to left and right, above and below.
    R: ALEZI, crowned bust of Alexius facing, wearing loros, holding jewelled sceptre and cross on globe.
    1g
    10mm
    SB1932 BMC 61*but*with a 'mirror image' reverse
     
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  8. Jims Coins

    Jims Coins Well-Known Member

    AE Anonymous Follis class A2. Minted at Constantinople during the reign of Basil II and Constantine VIII between 10 Jan. 976 - 11 Nov 1028.
    Obv. EMMANOVHA. (God is with Us) 83 JOHN I ZIMISCES OBV.jpg 83 JOHN I ZIMISCES  REV.jpg
     
  9. Jims Coins

    Jims Coins Well-Known Member

    85 ROMANUS III OBV.jpg 85 ROMANUS III REV.jpg 84 ROMANUS III OBV.jpg 84 ROMANUS III REV.jpg Class B Anonymous Follis, my two coins of Romanus III
     
  10. AussieCollector

    AussieCollector Moderator Moderator

    Great coin @Valentinian !

    Byzantines are not for the feint of heart.
     
  11. Quant.Geek

    Quant.Geek Well-Known Member

    Great pickup! I was the under bidder on that coin, but unfortunately I had leave early with my wife during the live auction and thus had to let it go :(, but glad it went to another true Byzantine collector! Here are my substitutes for that coin:

    [​IMG]

    [​IMG]
     
  12. BenSi

    BenSi Well-Known Member

    If you ever wondered why this are harder to find is because they were recycled into the new coinage issued by Alexius. The only time you will see overstruck tetartera is on top of the earlier Anonymous follis. The shortage of copper made it necessary Here are two examples. 8.jpg
    ALEXIUS AE TETARTERON S-1931 DOC 40 CLBC 2.4.7 SBCV-1910???
    OBV Jeweled radiate Cross, decorated at the end of each limb with one large globule and two smaller, all on two steps.
    REV. Bust of emperor wearing stemma, divitision and jeweled loros of traditional type; holds in r. hand scepter cruciger and in l. Globus cruciger.
    Size 25/22mm

    Weight 3.2gm
    This example is more than likely the coin listed as SBCV-1910 , Sear 1931 struck over a Class I or Class K anonymous follis. Hendys lists in DOC and Sear and Bendall gave it a number ( SBCV-1910)In DOC it lists at 2.96gm around 23mm

    This following one I love, You can easily see the underneath traces.
    9.jpg

    ALEXIUS AE TETARTERON S-1929 DOC 38 CLBC 2.4.5
    OBV Bust of Christ, bearded and nimbate, wearing tunic and kolobion; holds gospels open in l. hand. Pellet in each limb of nimbus cross.
    REV. Bust facing wearing stemma, divitision, and chlamys; holds in r. hand scepter cruciger, and in l. Globus cruciger.
    Size 19/22mm
    Weight 2.2gm

    Overstruck on class K follis.
     
  13. VD76

    VD76 Well-Known Member

    It seems there is no agreement on whether to call this coin tetarteron SBCV 1931 or follis SBCV 1910 :) . But here is a nice example, almost perfectly round, overstruck on K class follis .

    24 mm/ 5.1 g.
    F526A546-E8AB-4A96-868A-A10C878E7A74.jpeg 84327274-E455-4238-BE63-B7FE9A25FBD5.jpeg
     
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  14. BenSi

    BenSi Well-Known Member

    Nice example, I still believe that is just an overstrike on a K class follis. I do not believe SBCV-1910 exists.

    Many of the early tetartera issued right after the coin reform of 1092 are overstrikes on earlier partial follis.

    d1.jpg d2.jpg
     
  15. willieboyd2

    willieboyd2 First Class Poster

    My Alexius I coin:

    [​IMG]
    Alexius AE Follis Christ
    Bronze, 14x24 mm, 2.96 gm
    Struck: AD 1081-1085 Constantinople
    Obverse: Christ facing with cross behind head, gospels in left hand
    Reverse: Cross with globule and pellets

    Alexius I was the Byzantine Emperor from AD 1081 to 1118.

    He had the misfortune to face the hordes of Crusaders who passed through his territory on their way to the Holy Land.

    :)
     
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  16. Edessa

    Edessa Well-Known Member

    Anonymous, Time of Basil II & Constantine VIII. Circa AD 1020-1028. Æ Follis (27mm, 9.01g, 6h). Constantinople mint, Class 3. Obv: Nimbate bust of Christ facing, holding book of Gospels; two pellets in nimbus. Rev: + IhSЧS / XRISTЧS / bASILЄЧ / bASILЄ in four lines across field; ornament below. Ref: DOC A2.40; SB 1818.

    zzzb.jpg
     
  17. catadc

    catadc Well-Known Member

    Last edited: Sep 30, 2020
  18. Caesar_Augustus

    Caesar_Augustus Well-Known Member

    Lovely portrait and patina on that one!

    Reminds me of this one, which has since been gifted to a friend. Look at the 'A's in the legend! Same as yours :).

    Basil II & Constantine VIII
    AE Follis
    [​IMG]
    1023 - 1028 A.D., Constantinople Mint, null Officina
    7.55g, 25.6mm, 6H

    Obverse: +ЄMMANOVHΛ/IC - XC,
    Facing bust of Christ Pantokrator

    Reverse: +IҺSЧS/XRISTЧS/ЬASILЄЧ/ЬASILЄ,
    Legend in four lines; decoration above and below

    Class: A3

    Type: 24

    Ornament: [​IMG]

    Nimbus: [​IMG]

    Book: [​IMG]

    Provenance: Ex. Savoca eBay 2018

    Reference: SBCV 1818
     
  19. ancient coin hunter

    ancient coin hunter 3rd Century Usurper

    Romanus III or Michael IV A.D. 1028-1041

    AE Anonymous Follis, 28mm, 12.7 grams

    Obverse: EMMANOVHL, facing bust of Christ, wearing nimbus cruciger, pallium and colobium, holding gospels with both hands, to left IC, to right XC

    Reverse: Cross on three steps with pellet at each extremity, in fields IS-XS/BAS-ILE/ BAS-ILE (Jesus Christ, King of Kings)

    Reference: SBCV 1823

    [​IMG]

    [​IMG]

    Fortunately for them Romanus and Michael did not have to deal with Crusaders marching through their territory on the way to Jerusalem. The need to supply the Crusaders with provisions to keep them mollified didn't help. At least Alexius was able to extract oaths of fealty from the Crusader princes, who agreed to recognize his suzerainty and agree to turn lands conquered from the Turks to the empire, which they did to a varying extent. The Crusaders later regarded Alexius as duplicitous and the western perspective on the Empire changed so that "byzantine" became a synonym for crooked dealings and complexity.
     
    Last edited: Sep 30, 2020
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