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! 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!
Despite being cut this one is a decent example. Don't think I've shown this one. 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
Very nice, Warren and David! 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).
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.
Wonderful coin, Warren. My sad Alexius I, if it is since I got vague info on it in 2013. 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
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)
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:
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. 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. 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.
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.
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.
My Alexius I coin: 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.
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.
@Edessa - it is the IHSH XRISTU variant, check the forum for my topic on this. Edit: that topic is here: https://www.cointalk.com/threads/anonymous-follis-class-a2-type-24-ihsh.351718/ @Caesar_Augustus : same A, not the same coin...
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 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: Nimbus: Book: Provenance: Ex. Savoca eBay 2018 Reference: SBCV 1818
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 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.