I bought the coin below in yesterday's Savoca auction. Savoca listed it as a Michael VII Dukas follis of Constantinople. I don't know a lot about Byzantine coinage but Sear has only two folles for Michael VII, 1878 and 1879 (other than the anonymous types). The obverse on this coin seems different to the obverse on the Sear reference. Is it in fact a Michael VII follis? If not, what might it be? Thanks in anticipation.
It is a Sear 1878 - IC / XC above and stars below. If you look at the other 4 folles of the same type that Savoca sold yesterday, you'll see that all of them are overstruck, this being the reason why they look different. 1879 is quite rare. I also have one from Savoca, also badly overstruck.
Here is mine: Byzantine Empire: Michael VII Ducas (1071-1078) Æ Follis, Constantinople (Sear 1878; DOC 14b) Obv: Bust of Christ Pantokrator facing, bearded, with cross behind, wearing tunic and himation; right hand raised before breast in blessing, left hand holds book from beneath. In field, IC and XC above lateral arms of cross; six-pointed stars beneath them to left and right Rev: +MIX AHΛ RACIOΔ; Crowned bust of Michael facing, bearded, wearing modified loros with collar-piece and crown with cross and pendilia, holding in right hand labarum, in left globus cruciger Dim: 26mm, 7.39 g, 6h Byzantine Empire: Michael VII Ducas (1071-1078) Æ Follis, Constantinople (Sear 1879) Obv: Bust of Christ Pantokrator facing, bearded, with cross behind, wearing tunic and himation; right hand raised before breast in blessing, left hand holds book from beneath. In field, six-pointed stars above lateral arms of cross; IC XC beneath them to left and right Rev: +MIX AHΛ RACIOΔ; Crowned bust of Michael facing, bearded, wearing modified loros with collar-piece and crown with cross and pendilia, holding in right hand labarum, in left globus cruciger Dim: 29 mm, 6.34 g
