This particular coin arrived after spending MONTHS on a barge traveling from Germany to the US. I am still waiting for a few coins and it has already been four months! Anyway, this was an upgrade from an existing Andronicus II coin. Both are in pretty good shape for the type, but the new one is better: Byzantine Empire: Andronicus II Palaeologus (1282-1328) Æ Trachy, Thessalonica (Sear 2359; DOC V.913-17; PCPC 263; LPC 204.1; Lianta 833) Obv: Half-length figure of St. Michael, beardless and nimbate; right hand holds sword; left hand holds shield Rev: ANΔ/PONI/KOC/ΔЄC/ΠΟ/Τ to left, IC/XC to right; Full-length figure of Christ, bearded and nimbate, on right, holding Gospel in left hand; places right hand on the head of the emperor crouching in proskynesis to left Old Coin New Coin
Here is another upgrade that happened multiple times... Byzantine Empire: Michael VIII Palaeologos (1261-1282) Æ Trachy, Constantinople (Sear 2264; DOC V 64-5; PCPC 25; Donald-Bendall C.7) Obv: MP - ΘV in upper field; Full-length figure of Virgin nimbate, orans, three quarters left Rev: Full-length figure of emperor on left, and of St. George, beardless and nimbate; between them labarum on long shaft. Emperor wears stemma, divitision, collar-piece and jeweled loros of simplified type; right hand holds scepter cruciger. Saint wears short military tunic, breastplate and sagion
Very nice coins! I recently made an upgrade for the common trachy of Manuel I. I had to get this very sharp example! I think I won't buy another example of this type, unless there is a well-centered one with a nice flan, but it will never upgrade this one. Manuel I Comnenus (1143-1180). Billon Aspron Trachy. Constantinople mint. Obverse: Christ seated facing on throne with back, wearing pallium and colobium, raising his right hand in benediction and holding book of Gospels in his left; in fields, XC - IC. Reverse: ΜΑΝU[...] ΔЄCΠ / ΜΡ-ΦV Manuel I standing facing on the left, wearing divitision and chlamys, holding labarum in his right and globus cruciger in his left, crowned by the Virgin Mary, standing facing on the right. Reference: DOC IV 13F.1, Sear 1966. Here also a trachy of Michael VIII, eventhough St. Demetrios his face is not visible, it is still quite nice for the type, not sure if I will find an upgrade for this one. I think for late trachea in particular, a 'perfect' example does not exist, and if it exist it will sell for $$$. Mostly you take 2-3 trachea of the same type with all different strengths. Michael VIII Palaeologus (1261-1282). Æ Trachy. Constantinople mint. Obverse: O AGI-DEMETR. St. Demetrius standing facing, holding spear and resting left hand on shield, star at lower left. Reverse: MP-QV, MIXHAL. Michael standing on left, holding labarum, being crowned by Mary on right. Reference: Sear 2265. 2.03g; 26mm
Those are really nice as well. Michael VIII is always difficult and Sear 2265 is one of the difficult ones. Sear 1966 is much easier, but your Manuel looks nice and sharp and thus will be difficult to top. Here are Sear 2265 which took a while to upgrade: Byzantine Empire: Michael VIII Palaeologos (1261-1282) Æ Trachy, Constantinople (Sear 2265; Bendall- Donald C.8; PCPC 26; DOC V 66-9) Obv: Full-length figure of St. Demetrius, beardless and nimbate, wearing short military tunic, breastplate and sagion; right hand holding spear; left hand holding shield Rev: in upper and right field; Full length figure of emperor on left, blessed by Virgin, nimbate; Emperor wears stemma, divitision, jeweled loros of simplified type and sagion; right hand holds labarum on long shaft; left hand holds anexikakia
Trying to get upgrades I sometimes end up looking for certain details I'd like to see better but on the whole end up downgrading lol.
Yep, that is the great dilemma with these types of coins, unfortunately. You sometimes end up downgrading solely due to trying to get a better legend or a feature that is not present in your other coin.
A scarce coin that is difficult to upgrade: Byzantine Empire: Andronicus II Palaeologus with Michael IX (1282-1328) Æ Trachy, Thessalonica (Sear 2458; DOC 778-79; LPC 232.6; PCPC 235) Obv: Two concentric circles bisected by vertical band Rev: Three-quarter length figure of Andronicus II and of Michael IX, wearing stemma, divitision, collar piece and loros; between them haloed cross on long shaft. Both emperors hold in right and left hand respectively scepter cruciger
This was thought to be a anepigraphic 'anonymous' type but your last specimen has also the M X legend naming the imperial figure on the right as Michael. What an excellent spec.
I have been AWOL for a while due to work and family commitments and it looks like I missed a lot. This particular type always have a bad obverse, unfortunately and thus its very difficult in any form that shows the concentric circles. It was all luck as I was at the right time to pick that one up. I believe it was one of three? coins I picked up on Ma-Shops from a vendor a while back.
