Justinian I

I know these are common but the one I had was lost in an overseas move so I bid on an "upgrade" in the latest Savoca auction and won. The obliterated X is a shame but I liked the portrait on this one and can't wait until it arrives from Germany. It's 38mm which I love.

 

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Great job, @Raymond Beracha ! But bummer losing the original in a move.

Mine are considered Mint State and Proof...


BZ Justinian I 527-565 CE AE30 Folles 12.2g 40 Nummi M monogram



BZ Justinian I 527-565 CE AE Folles 30mm 17g 40 Nummi M monogram

 

They are nicely big and bulky, aren't they?

Mine is 42mm.

 

These are great to hold in hand! Here's mine (at 44mm & 21g):

 

I have an earlier example (pre-reform follis).

 

I don't have one any more, but I always liked how the facing-portrait ones evoke the famous mosaic in Ravenna.

 

Nice one. Here’s mine. Photographed poorly, alas.

 

I believe your coin had bronze disease over the X, the right leg of the M and on the edge, at 7-8 o'clock on the reverse. It was treated and repatinated, most probably with sulphur. It appears that the treatment was not successful and the b.d. is coming back. I hope, for you and for the coin, that i am wrong.

 

You forgot to specify the MS#.

I think the first one rates MS 72.36789100101701, while the other is clearly MS 89.6666666666660813.

Just my humble opinion.....

 

LOL

 

I've always liked the folles of Justinian I.

Here's one example that I purchased from Harlan Berk many years ago.

Year 13 (539/40 AD), Antioch, third officina.

22.7 grams

 

Interesting mint Mark. What does THNPO mean?

 

No Justinian, but I got his uncle!

 

Antioch

 

must be a dialect

 

...Oh, (mild expletive of choice), who can help with this? It's an abbreviation of the contemporaneous Greek, something vaguely corresponding to 'City of God' ...or dimly like that. ...To give the Byzantines as much moral latitude as possible for having renamed Antioch (for a mercifully brief interval --and who misses it?) in the first place, they were probably referencing the importance of the city to the history of early Christianity.

 

I searched many years to find two examples as nice as these .

 

Your right, the name was changed after the earthquake & fire hit the city.

 

It's the earlier Greek name for Antioch OYTIOA(S). The Antioch Mint underwent a name change following the great earthquake (TH4e; Theoupolis mint, renamed from ANTIX following the great earthquake when a large portion of the city was destroyed and burned

Really nice coins, Al.

Do you collect these coins by mint and date?

 

robinjojo, At one time I gave that some thought but gave up on the idea. High grade Byzantine material is to hard to find today at reasonable prices. My current focus is on Diocletian era folles & Antioch Tets.