Its been a while since I posted anything. My commitments to work, research, and family sucked up most of my free time. In fact, I haven't even purchased a coin in months! So, I figured I should take a brief break from current, hectic life and post this coin that I acquired a while back. See if you can figure out where this coin came from...
In addition to yours, Naumann sold another of these. They weren't sure what it was. Solidus sold one with a delta on the obverse and a different reverse type. Solidus called it a tessera. Doesn't seem to be much info about these little coins out there.
I knew I should have removed the attribution before posting . Since the cat is out of the bag, let me explain with the attribution: Byzantine Empire: Anonymous (555-624) 4 Nummi, Cartago Spartaria (Gavilá 44) Obv: Greek Delta (Δ) representing value within circular border Rev: Cross in circle with traces of marginal legend or radiated border With Justinian's campaign to regain the lost areas of the Western Empire, the Byzantines landed in Cartago Spartaria and established a mint there. The mint was producing these 4 Nummi coins til the settlement was destroyed by the Visigoth king Suintila in 624. Surprised none of the auction houses gave the attribution and thus was sold somewhat as a unidentified follis. There aren't that many of them out there. Gold coins were also minted, but those are well known and was published here: https://www.persee.fr/doc/numi_0484-8942_2011_num_6_167_3032
What an extraordinarily interesting issue. Too bad I'm late to the party, I knew about these and I'm rather ashamed that I missed it if it sold at Naumann's.
Hi All, These coins were first noted in 1997. One is on Wildwinds at http://www.wildwinds.com/coins/byz/heraclius/Leu_1997.jpg http://www.wildwinds.com/coins/byz/heraclius/Leu_1997.txt At the time the coin lists went back and forth on attribution and finally settled on Alexandria as the issuing mint. I’d love to see scholarly attribution data to support either mint (Carthage or Alexandria). Can anyone steer me to a paper on the subject? I am not familiar with Gavilá. - Broucheion
Rodriguez Gavila's article "Monedas de 4 nummi anonimas, tipo Cruz-Delta: Una ceca Bizantina en Carthago Spartaria" is on Hecate 3 2016 and can be read here: http://revista-hecate.org/files/8814/8260/2852/Rodriguez_Gavila3.pdf
Thanks for posting the reference. That is exactly where I got my copy from. Of the ones that I have seen, the CNG one was the most expensive one that was sold which is the same variety as mine... Heraclius(?). 610-641. Æ Four Nummi (12mm, 1.01 g). Alexandria (?) mint. Cross in circle with trace of marginal legend / D. DOC -; MIB -; SB -. Near VF, heavy green patina. Very rare. From the Chris Connell Collection. A most enigmatic issue, known from only a handful of specimens. The types are simple, and provide few clues for attribution beyond a probable late Roman / early Byzantine date. The only Byzantine mint known to have struck four nummi pieces is Thessalonica under Justinian I, but Thessalonica, along with Alexandria struck anomalous denominations under a local currency system, and the latter mint is not out of the question. One note that could be made is the similarity of the obverse type with the anonymous bronzes of Ethiopian Axum, which circulated in Egypt and Syria/Palestine in the late 6th / early 7th century, and were even extensively copied in the region. Alexandria during the reign of Heraclius would be as good a guess as any. 174, Lot: 272. Estimate $300. Sold for $900. This amount does not include the buyer’s fee.
Hi @Quant.Geek, Thank you. I had communicated back and forth with Chris Connell back in the day. He was my source for the Alexandria attribution. I always thought it was odd given that Alexandria already had 1, 3, and 6 nummi coins in addition to the ‘standard’ 12 nummi coins. A 4 nummi coin was not out of the question, just A bit of overkill as yet a fourth fractional denomination for this series. -Broucheion
Small world, he answered my first question about Byzantine tetartera, he passed away in 2007 . He was always helpful, I met him on yahoo groups and I am thankful that I corresponded with him first. https://www.coinbooks.org/esylum_v10n17a02.html
I have read an article in Itallian,and English. I just downloaded it a few weeks ago. It's regarding the Vandalic period in North Africa and Italy. Unfortunately, it's too large to attach, some three hundred pages. The title of the reasearch is Byzantine Coinage in the East Volume II by Alberto D'Andrea, Alain Gennari, Andrea Torno Ginnasi. It's in Italian and English translation. The article is entitled:"The AE4 struck during the Persian occupation of Alexander." I VOL II Byzantine Coinage in the East Volume II" ...the AE4 reported below is attributed to (photo is same style, has an Alpha) Alexandria (DOC 1 no.375 for Justinian I (MIB III no 215) ...On the obverse, the coin shows a star or flower with eight limbs, and on the reverse a letter "A" surmounted by a cross." If any of you are interested, here is a site to a literary and research site "Academia.edu." Check it out, you can download it. There are literally thousands of numismatic articles that one can download. It's been a great source of info for me. This one is towards the end. Have fun and scroll on. Cheers and good luck
