Byzantine Empire produced some nice “cup”-styles coins from around 1100 and onwards. They are nice and affordable, and easy to identify. But after the 1204 sack of Constantinople the Byzantine Empire was literally shattered, and from that point their cup-coins became very hard to identify. So, the matter stood that I purchased a byzantine lot for some few years ago. In it there was a so-called “trachy” that I could not identify. I was sure it was struck after 1204 due to its crudeness. I am talking about that coin: It is 2.5 cm. Note I have outlined some patterns with red because my camera could not catch it. Can anyone tells me whether my coin is a Theodore I Comnenus-Lascaris of the Nicaea-state (Sear 2069) like this: http://labarum.info/lbr/show.php?coin=20690 .. Or whether it is actually a Bulgarian imitation (from the auction of Numismatik Naumann): BULGARIA. Second Empire. Ivan Asen II (1218-1241). Ae Trachy Obv: IC - XC. Facing bust of Christ Pantokrator. Rev: Ivan Asen and St. Demetrius standing facing, holding between them a star-tipped staff. D&D 2.2.1: Thanks.
Its Bulgarian. Here is Sear 2069 which is clearly different from the Bulgarian imitation of Ivan Asen II... Empire of Nicaea: Theodore II Ducas-Lascaris (1254-1258) Æ Trachy, Magnesia (Sear 2069; DOC IV, Type A; Lianta 276) Obv: IC XC O ЄMMANϪHΛ in two columnar groups; Bust of Christ Emmanuel, beardless and nimbate; left hand holds scroll; Pellets in each limb of nimbus cross Rev: IШ ΔЄCΠΟΤΗC - OΘЄΟΔШΡΟC; Full-length figure of emperor on left, and of St. Theodore, bearded and nimbate; between them shaft, at the head of which a star, and at the base of which a kite-shaped shield. Emperor wears stemma, divitision and chlamys; righ hand holds labarum-headed scepter; Saint wears short military tunic and breastplate; left hand holds spear, resting over shoulder Second Bulgarian Empire: Ivan II Asen (1218-1241) Æ Trachy, Ochrida? (Raduchev & Zhekov 1.2.2; Youroukova & Penchev-35,36; Dobrinić & Dimnik 2.2.1; DOC IV.2; Lianta 478) Obv: IC XC in field; Bust of Christ, beardless and nimbate, wearing tunic and kolobion; holds Gospels in left hand, pellets, normally ⁙, in each limb of nimbus cross Rev: IШ ACѢNЪ Ц CTATЪI ΔHMHTPIЄ, in two columnar groups; Full-length figure of Ivan II on left, and of St. Demetrius, beardless and nimbate, holding between them long shaft surmounted by star, Ivan II wears stemma, divitision, and paneled chlamys; holds scepter cruciger in right hand, Saint wears short military tunic, breastplate, and sagion; holds sword, point downward, in left hand Dim: 2.06 g, 27 mm
How can you see that MY COIN is Bulgarian? I cannot. The obverse have IC XC between a Jesus. Both the Bulgarian and Byzantine have it. I try to distinguish it by analyzing the clothes, and that is a bit difficult giving that Sear 2069 is worned. Something else: Do u - or others here - have an idea how much worth my coin is if it is Bulgarian? At Neumann it is selling for at least 80 Euro. Mine is worned, but... Thank you by the way.
The Bulgarian coin looks like this. Notice the difference in the garments and the missing shield between the emperor and the saint: and now the reverse of Sear 2069 in another coin:
I agree with @Quant.Geek . The lack of the shield is a large indicator here. That pretty much identifies the coin. If there wasn't that, the style is (somewhat) indicative of Bulgarian. Notice the elongated figures and particularly the way the Saint's torso transitions to his legs and the Saint's elongated arms.
