I am stuck on this coin, it is very attractive especially for a later issue. I bought the coin at auction and the sellers description was blatenly wrong. John III Ducas (Vatatzes). Emperor of Nicaea, 1222-1254. Ae heavy Tetarteron Magnesia mint. The Theotokos standing right, head facing; stars flanking / Half-length bust of John facing, holding labarum and globe surmounted by patriarchal cross Weight : 4.45 Diameter: 26.4 The coin in hand is nicer than my photos, it is very slightly cup shaped, however it could have been struck flat. It does not appear to be flattened. The weight is 4.5 and the size at the widest point is 30mm. ( The flan cracks might be an indication it was a trachy.) I have tried, DOC, Bendal Douchev and Lianta, I did not find any match. I am hoping someone has run across this issue before. Any help is appreciated.
Thank you Seth! I think you found it. I admire your skill. I knew it was not a tetarteron but Bendall said the word stamena was used interchangeable between flat and cup shaped coins for the later years. Here is an example of a coin has had its controversies, it is listed as a trachy and a tetarteron. My example is a flat tetarteron. this in mind i did not want to presume. John Comnenus -Ducas (1237-1244) Half tetarteron SBCV-2224
Ha! I had flagged that coin too, and it took me a long time to come to Seth's conclusion. Here's my Theodore II tetarteron:
Love that coin @Severus Alexander , here is mine. Dirt intact. It is also a difficult coin to find. Theodore II (Magn.) AE Tetarteron SBCV-2145 DOC IV 13 OBV- Lys. Pellet in Upper and lower field, to either side. REV- Full length figure of emperor wearing stemma, divitision and Chalmys; holds in r hand labarum on a long shaft and in l. anexikakia. Size 18.57 Weight 1.9gm DOC lists 2 examples sized 17mm and 21mm and only one weight .95gm
I also flagged the coin, identified it as a 2143, and one of the best conditions i saw online. I did not bid, just looked to see what it get.
Very cool stuff, of the kind I could wish I had more than cursory representation. I like how Theodore II took a line from the AR trams of Levon I of Armenia from earlier in the 13th century. Using a fleur de lis, even as he was in the process of liquidating the Frankish Empire.
Photos I had handy lots more will be coming soon I hope; so little time now as we are living through a major home water leak which is consuming a lot of time and energy.