An Ancient Oddity

Discussion in 'Ancient Coins' started by Old World Coins, Jun 6, 2021.

  1. Old World Coins

    Old World Coins Well-Known Member

    I picked this one up recently. I love unusually oddities whether its errors, unusual coins, or just some cool factor to a coin. This one I thought was very cool and unusual admittingly I don't collect too many Byzantine coins to say how often this happens. I think the only other ancient oddity I have is a VOT coin with the "VOT" backwards on the coin.
    Follis.jpg Follis1.jpg Follis1a.jpg
     
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  3. Roman Collector

    Roman Collector Well-Known Member

    That IS interesting, @Old World Coins, and astonishingly well-preserved. What a cool coin!
     
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  4. furryfrog02

    furryfrog02 Well-Known Member

  5. Brian Bucklan

    Brian Bucklan Well-Known Member

    Interesting type. The description isn't quite right though. The SCL on the reverse is not in the exergue of any Justin I follis. It's also a countermark that is typically paired with the obverse "bust of Heraclius" countermark.
     
  6. furryfrog02

    furryfrog02 Well-Known Member

    I don't have a counterstamp on a Justinian but I do have one that is directly below yours on wildwinds:

    Heraclius and Heraclius Constantine
    AE Follis
    Sicilian mint
    Counterstamped, re-used SB809 (large M) types
    Obverse: No legend, facing busts of Heraclius, with short beard, on left and Heraclius Constantine, on right, both crowned and wearing chlamys, cross between their heads, all within oval punch stamped over the reverse of the large M type coin SB 809; sometimes ANNO, regnal dates and mintmark CON are still visible
    Reverse: no legend, Large SCL in circular punch over the lower parts of the figures of Heraclius and Heraclius Constantine (SB 809 obverse); no mintmark. SB 883,

    1866 5 Cents - Rays (38).png
     
  7. Old World Coins

    Old World Coins Well-Known Member

    thank you. I really dont have much knowledge with these.
     
  8. ancient coin hunter

    ancient coin hunter 3rd Century Usurper

    Very interesting combination. I don't collect error coins or over strikes intentionally but this one is really cool.
     
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  9. Nicholas Molinari

    Nicholas Molinari Well-Known Member

    I love these types.
     
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  10. Marsyas Mike

    Marsyas Mike Well-Known Member

    That OP is a real stunner. Nice pick up @Old World Coins

    I have a couple of these (SB 882), but neither one is as nice as yours:

    CM - Byz Heraclius SB cm bust Rh SB 882 lot Oct 2019 (0a).jpg
    CM - Byz Heraclius SB cm bust Rh SB 882 Mar 2018 (0).jpg
     
  11. Al Kowsky

    Al Kowsky Well-Known Member

    O.W.C., That's a great score :happy:! Your coin has an exceptionally clear counter stamp. I'm still searching for an example of that quality :watching:.
     
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  12. Valentinian

    Valentinian Well-Known Member

    SB882overSB161sm.jpeg

    After Italy was reconquered for the empire under Justinian, Syracuse, on the southeast coast of Sicily, became a Roman mint. Under Heraclius (610-641) it overstruck many earlier coins with small dies depicting Heraclius on the obverse and SCL for Sicily on the reverse.

    Heraclius, 610-641, overstruck at Syracuse on a follis of Justinian from before the reform of Justinian in 538. (So, the coin was at least 72 years old when it was restruck.)
    His bust with a monogram for Heraclius to the right.
    SCL with a bar above, abbreviating Sicily.
    34-31 mm. 15.70 grams (which is the size of the undertype)

    Sear 882 over Sear 161.

    Syracuse also struck coins with nearly full-flan dies, but almost all are overstruck on previous coins, as opposed to struck on newly-prepared blank flans.

    SB884Heraclius1880.jpg

    29-24 mm. 5.32 grams.
    Heraclius and son/Heraclian monogram with SC (for Sicily)
    DOC II.I 243, says "imposed at Constantinople for coins intended for Sicily" [note 243, p. 356 and pp.237-8]
    I have not identified the undertype.
    Sear 884

    Countermark from 632-641
     
  13. Black Friar

    Black Friar Well-Known Member

    I love these types as well. Here are a couple I have photographed.
     

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