Unusual Follis of Tiberius II Constantine ... Can't Figure it Out

Discussion in 'Ancient Coins' started by Brian Bucklan, Sep 5, 2019.

  1. Brian Bucklan

    Brian Bucklan Well-Known Member

    I was going through some coins I threw in a "to be identified" folder I put away many years ago and came across this one:

    Follis of Tiberius II Constantine:

    Obv: Om TIb CNO - STANT PP AV; Crowned bust facing holding cross on globe
    Rev: Large M; ANNO to left, cross above, I (year 1?) to right and CON in exergue
    Tib Constantine Follis CON.jpg
    I just am having a tough time figuring this one out as I don't believe there were any year one issues of this emperor and those of other years used the "m" style and not "M". I did find a Constantine in Numidia issue with CON in exergue but it again was not year 1.

    Outside of the minor spelling error of his name this 29mm coin looks just fine. Was hoping someone can help so it doesn't have to go back into hiding for another 10 years.
     
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  3. Severus Alexander

    Severus Alexander find me at NumisForums

    I'd say it's Maurice, not Tib II Const. I've been fooled by these before, the legends are very tricky, your blundered one especially so.

    Here's an example:

    [​IMG]

    And another:

    [​IMG]
     
    Last edited: Sep 5, 2019
  4. Brian Bucklan

    Brian Bucklan Well-Known Member

    I did consider this but the Maurice Tiberius coins always have TIbER MAVRC (or similar) in the legend and mine has Tib CONSTANT which is clearly Tiberius II. But you do make an excellent point and it may be that the coin is a mule with the obverse of Tiberius II and the reverse of Maurice Tiberius. It certainly is a distinct possibility as it is a year 1 issue. Perhaps @Valentinian can weigh in on this as he is the resident Byzantine coin guru on this site.
     
  5. Severus Alexander

    Severus Alexander find me at NumisForums

    You have the coin in hand, so you'll be able to tell better than me. But I was thinking that if the apparent "T" is in fact the cross in the crown, and if you squint, you could see a blundered MAVRC in there, starting (unusually) to the right of the crown. But I admit I'm scrounging for an explanation here... :) The mule possibility is interesting!
     
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  6. Severus Alexander

    Severus Alexander find me at NumisForums

    The globus cruciger isn't right for Tib II, but CNG did sell this unusual coin:

    [​IMG]

    Tiberius II Constantine. 578-582. Æ 40 Nummi – Follis (28mm, 11.87 g, 6h). Constantinople mint. Dated RY 5 (578/9). Crowned bust facing, wearing consular robes and holding globus cruciger and eagle-tipped scepter; small cross(?) to upper right / Large m; cross above, A/N/N/O Ч (date) across field; CON. DOC –; MIBE 24 var. (obv. bust type and regnal year); SB 429 var. (same). VF, dark green to black patina with earthen highlights/deposits. Very rare with an unusual flan.
    This bust type with the emperor holding a globus cruciger is not published (he usually holds a mappa), and regnal year 5 is also not listed in the standard references.


    Quite the puzzle! I'm still inclined to think it's an engraving error on a coin issued under Maurice.
     
  7. Brian Bucklan

    Brian Bucklan Well-Known Member

    It's tough to see on a one dimensional photo but moving it around in hand you can easily make out "om (definitely and clearly not DN) Tib CNO (cross on crown) STAN ...". Everything except that spelling error is perfect for Tiberius II, but the reverse is not his. That's why I was thinking Constantine in Numidia as the mint as a regnal year II is noted in Sear, but even that coin had him holding an eagle on scepter although that might be an error as I can't find an example of this coin.
     
    Severus Alexander likes this.
  8. David@PCC

    David@PCC Well-Known Member

    Looks like a Imitative military mint of Tiberius Constantine, so it may not be published.
     
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