A Crusty Byzantine 40 Nummi Coin Recently Added

I had been looking for a Justinian I, 40 nummi coin struck in year 12 (1st year of issue for this new type) & settled for this coin. Year 12 coins are more difficult to find than year 13 coins for some reason unknown to me . I'll probably remove it from the slab .

 

Log in or Sign up to hide this ad.

Yeah freeing it up so it can breathe would make the coin happy.

 

@Al Kowsky That's a nice example. There's been a lot of interesting discussion lately, on CoinTalk, about whether Justinian I was a good emperor, or a bad emperor, or somewhere in between. Especially in the "Did Rome Really Fall In AD 476" thread. Some have said, that it was Justinian's re-conquest of Italy, which severely damaged, what was left of the Roman civilization in Italy. On the other hand, Justinian I re-conquered much of the territory of the old Western Roman Empire, and he may have re-conquered all of it, if the Plague Of Justinian hadn't happened. On the other hand, he spent all of the vast sum of money, that Anastasius I had saved, during Anastasius's reign. And a lot of the credit goes to his general, Belisarius, and to his wife Theodora. And so on. I guess, I don't know enough about it. I recently purchased 4 of the Norwich books, on the history of the Byzantine Empire (the summary book, and the 3 detailed books). Maybe I'll see what Mr. Norwich has to say. I imagine, that other books, will have differing opinions.
Here's my Year 12 Justinian I.



Justinian I AE 40 Nummus Follis. Regnal Year 12. 538 AD To 539 AD. Nikomedia Mint. 44 mm. 21.73 grams.

 

Congrats Al, heres mine:

 

You should enjoy the John Julius Norwich books - I have most of them in my library.

 

I just received the first two books of the series by John Julius Norwich.. looking forward to some down time so I can enjoy them..

 

Nice addition.


Justinian I (527 - 565 A.D.)
Æ Follis
O: DN ISTINI-ANVS PP AVG Helmeted and cuirassed bust of Justinian facing, holding globus cruciger and a shield.
R: Large M, cross above, ANNO left, regnal year XXXI right, G ( = officina 3 ) below, THEUP in ex.
Theoupolis - Antiochia
18.64g
32mm
SB 220

 

If the coin were in better shape I'd keep it slabbed, but this one is to rough to be slabbed . I love these hefty bronze 40 nummi coins , they almost feel like medallions in your hand .

 

Wow ! Your coin is a beauty, be thankful you saw it before I did . I'm sure you'll enjoy the Norwich books, they're a must have for Byzantine freaks. My late brother gave me the set a long time ago.

 

Andres, That's a nice example for the post plague years .

 

Mat, That's a great late example from The City of God .

 

Clavdivs, That's a beauty with a lovely patina .

 

I'd love have a year 12. And glad to hear you'll be cracking it out!

Year 15, but there's no Cyzicus in the thread yet:

 

S.A., That's a beauty with perfect centering . It looks big enough to hold your breakfast sandwich .

 

Justinian I, Byzantine Empire
AE follis
Obv: D N IVSTINI-ANVS P P AVG, diademed, helmeted, cuirassed bust facing, holding globus cruciger and shield, cross to right
Rev. Large M, cross above, officina letter Δ below, ANNO to left, XX to right, mintmark QHЧΠ in ex
Mint: Theopolis (Antioch)
Date: 546/7 (year 20)
Ref: SB 220
Size: 19.9 gr., 39 mm

 

Nooooo don’t take it out!!

 

V.K., Great detail on the obverse of this coin, especially on the head & face . My coin has lost detail on the head & face .

 

But coins don’t need to breathe and opening it up would only expose it to oxygen and humidity which could have detrimental effects on the coin just like if someone dropped a coin in a pool and left it there for months.

 

Presently the coin appears to be at peace with itself slabbed, so it remains slabbed.

 

Yay! ^_^

I understand why some people don’t like slabbed coins but at the same time if it doesn’t hurt anything or cost you anything why not keep it slabbed?