Eastern Roman Empire: Nicephorus III - First auction win in a while!

Discussion in 'Ancient Coins' started by AussieCollector, Sep 2, 2021.

  1. AussieCollector

    AussieCollector Moderator Moderator

    Hi all

    Hope you're well, and managing through the pandemic.

    I haven't been incredibly active recently in the hobby, but I did want to share this little win. Ancient auctions in Australia are few are far between, so I really wanted to nab something in the most recent auction. Honestly, the prices were just... ridiculous. I had a high indifference to which coin I wanted, and bid on half a dozen. On most of them, I didn't bid anywhere near the winning price (although I still feel like a only just missed out on one of them...).

    Anyway, I was really pleased to have picked this one up at a relatively good price (all things considered).


    upload_2021-9-3_13-27-20.png

    NICEPHORUS III, (A.D.1078-1081), electrum gold histamenon nomisma
    Constantinople mint, (4.33 g)
    Obv. bearded Christ enthroned no back, facing, wearing nimbus, raising right hand, in left hand the Gospels, IC XC across, double dotted border
    Rev. +NIKH**F D*EC T W ROTANIAT, around bust of Nicephorus facing, bearded wearing crown and loros, holding labarum with X on shaft and globe with cross, (ref S.1881, DOC 3, BMC 7-11, R.2051-2)

    Please share your late Eastern Roman coins :)

    AC
     
    AussieCollector, Sep 2, 2021
    #1 + Quote Reply
    happy_collector, Ignoramus Maximus, Valentinian and 20 others like this.
  2. Avatar

    Guest User Guest



    to hide this ad.
  3. sand

    sand Well-Known Member

    @AussieCollector That's a nice portrait of Jesus Christ, and a nice portrait of the Emperor.
    So far, I have survived the pestilence. I don't know, if I have ever caught the disease. So far, I haven't had any major symptoms. However, my friend's brother passed away, in January, from a combination of brain cancer and COVID-19, they said. I had not seen him, in many years. Very few persons attended his funeral, because of the pandemic. I watched his funeral, on the internet.
    Here is one of my late Byzantine coins.
    Andronicus I Billon Aspron Trachy. Byzantine Empire. 1183 AD to 1185 AD. Constantinople Mint. Sear 1985. Diameter = 28 mm. Weight = 3.40 grams. Obverse Mary With Halo Standing Facing On Dais Holding Head Of Jesus Christ With Halo Facing, M-Rho On Left, Theta-V On Right. M-Rho Theta-V Is Abbreviation For "Meter Tou Theou", Greek For "Mother Of God". Reverse On Left Emperor Standing Facing, On Right Jesus Christ With Halo Standing Facing, Jesus Christ Is Crowning The Emperor.
    Andronicus_I_obverse_and_reverse_1_vertical_800_Mary_on_obverse.jpg
     
    Last edited: Sep 3, 2021
    sand, Sep 3, 2021
    #2 + Quote Reply
    AussieCollector, kountryken, PeteB and 7 others like this.
  4. furryfrog02

    furryfrog02 Well-Known Member

    That's a great win @AussieCollector ! I don't have many trachys but I do have a follis of Nicephorus III:

    Nicephorus III, Botaniates, Follis.png

    Nicephorus III, Botaniates
    1078-1081 AD
    AE Follis
    Constantinople
    Obverse: IC-XC to left and right of three-quarter length figure of Christ standing facing, wearing nimbus cross, holding book of gospels and raising right hand, large star to left and right
    Reverse: C-F-N-D in the four corners of a cross with a large dot at the ends of each arm, circle in centre containing large star of eight rays
    DO 9; Sear 1888.
     
    furryfrog02, Sep 3, 2021
    #3 + Quote Reply
    AussieCollector, kountryken, PeteB and 6 others like this.
  5. Al Kowsky

    Al Kowsky Well-Known Member

    I scored this one earlier this year but it was expensive :(. Choice late Byzantine gold ain't cheap :p. Click image for an enlarged view :wideyed:.

    Romanus IV, Diogenes, AV scyphate histamenon nomisma Al Kowsky Collection.jpg
     
    Last edited: Sep 3, 2021
    Al Kowsky, Sep 3, 2021
    #4 + Quote Reply
    Hrefn, AussieCollector, Valentinian and 7 others like this.
  6. AussieCollector

    AussieCollector Moderator Moderator

    Thank you, yes I agree. It's cracked, but the portraits are quite detailed. Better than most for this type.

    Thank you for sharing your coin. I love billion trachys, and your reverse is decently detailed for the type :)

    I'm pleased to hear that you are surviving so far. It has been hard, and I'm sorry to hear about your friend's brother :(

    Thank you.

    And great follis! I really do need to get my hands on a late follis. I have been focusing too much on trachys.

    It may have been expensive, but that's a beautiful gold (proper gold, not like mine) late trachy @Al Kowsky, thanks for sharing! Lovely detail on both the obverse and the reverse.
     
    AussieCollector, Sep 4, 2021
    #5 + Quote Reply
    furryfrog02 and sand like this.
Draft saved Draft deleted

Share This Page