Pretty happy to get this one from a seller on Ebay who didn't know what it was Nicephorus Basilacius SB 1903a Follis, (overstruck on a Class D, E or F follis) Struck in Thessalonica, 1078 AD 27mm 8.2g These used to be thought to be an anonymous coin because until fairly recently, there was no known coin with a readable obverse inscription.. The obverse legend on the left side mine is really clear that it was struck by someone named Nicephorus. (i think its a best of type obverse left side) but the reverse is quite bad.. From the Alexiad on Nicephorus Basilacius "this Basilacius was kingly both in mind and appearance. He had a voice like thunder, of a nature to strike fear into a whole army, and his shout was enough to quell the courage of the boldest. Further, his eloquence was irresistible, whether he tried to excite the soldiers to battle or check them in flight. With all these natural advantages and an unconquerable army under his command, the man started on his campaign, and seized the city of the Thessalians............." the Emperor Nicephorus III sent the future emperor Alexius I, to stop him... which he did "They took the latter in charge, led him to a village called Chlempina, and near the spring in it put out his eyes: hence the spring is to this day called the spring of Basilacius. This was the third Labour accomplished by the great Alexius before he became Emperor, and he might rightly be styled a second Heracles. For you would not be wide of the mark in calling this fellow Basilacius the Erymanthian boar, and my most noble father Alexius, a modern Heracles. Such, then, were the successes and achievements of Alexius before he ascended the throne," Though it may have also been struck by Nicephorus Bryennius, ( though both of them were defeated by The Modern Heracles Alexius )
Congratulations !!! Nice find ! I used to have two coins of Nicephorus Basilacius SBCV 1903A and SBCV 1890 , but I sold them a few years ago. Now a little regret about it
Just a few years ago SBCV 1890 and SBCV 1903A were extremely rare coins and just a few examples known. Look at it now , just half an hour of internet search. Still rare, but not so. SBCV 1890
Yeah, i think it was the left hand position that I noticed first, then i saw that the legend looked unusual for a follis.. + i thought it might be a Nicephorus Basilacius, so i looked his coins up + it was a match.
