I'll post more details when I get it; I don't want to jinx myself. It looks like poo (wear), but beggars can't be choosers with this series. It's been one of my bucket list coins for many years. Were I more deep-pocketed, I'd collect Italian mint Byzantine coins. A realistic portrait (as Byzantine coins go) Justinian I right facing bust follis is another one I want; certainly more attainable than Ravenna. A really nice Vaballathus/Aurelian Tet is another, but those come up fairly often.
Pictures or it didn't happen Here's my Vabal and Aurelian Antoninianus; VABALATHUS & Aurelian 271-272 AD. Antoninianus Antioch mint. IMP C AVRELIANVS AVG, radiate and cuirassed bust of Aurelian right; S below / VABALATHVS VCRIMDR, laureate, draped and cuirassed bust of Vabalathus right, seen from behind. RIC V
I don't have Ravenna mint yet but I do have a Justinian follis and half-follis from Rome: Justinian I, Byzantine Empire AE follis Obv: D N IVSTINI-ANVS P P AVG, pearl-diademed, draped, bust right Rev: Large M, cross above, cross to left, star to right, all within wreath Mint: Rome Mintmark: ROMA (in exergue) Date: 537-542 AD Ref: SB 293 Justinian I, Byzantine Empire AE half-follis Obv: D N IVSTI-NIANVS, diademed, draped, and cuirassed bust right Rev: Large K, star to left, cross to right, all within wreath Mint: Rome Date: 537-542 AD Ref: SB 301 Also, here are my Antioch and Constantinople-mint folles: 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 Justinian I, Byzantine Empire AE follis Obv: D N IVSTINIANVS P P AVG, diademed, helmeted, cuirassed bust facing, holding globus cruciger and shield, cross to right Rev. Large M, cross above, officina letter B below, ANNO to left, XЧ to right, CON in ex. Mint: Constantinople Date: 541/2 (year 15) Ref: SB 163. Size: 23.30g, 39mm One of my goals is to collect a Justinian follis from each city that minted them, but right now this is on the backburner as I expand my Ptolemaic collection. But I might cave if I come across a nice follis at a good price, though...
Those are nice. I wander in and out of collecting Byzantine. I haven't opened my Byzantine Sear in a while, but off the top of my head Salona and the uncertain Italian mint would be the hardest. And was there a Spanish one? My mom always called Byzantine coins 'slag heaps.' My favorite Byzantine AE are Year 12-14 Justinian Folles and the large module Heraclius SCL mint.
At least the avatar chooser was pretty easy. I chose haunting for the mood because I liked the ghost, and it was something different. Ravenna folles of Justinian seem to be unobtanium, in any condition. I wonder if Constantinople issues filled the gaps in Ravenna? I'll post the picture and details when I get the item in hand.
Congratulations on a great coin - can't wait to see your photo! Here is one of mine from Year 37 (563/4). 8.47 gr. 28.3 mm. 7h. Sear 323; Hahn 233 (this coin). Ex Coin Galleries Mail Bid Sale 11/12/2003, lot 247; ex Berk England 12/7/89, lot 45; ex Waddell 10 July-Aug. 1984, lot 57.
Wow, the above coin is definitely better than my slag heap (my mom's phrase for Byzantine coins)! That is spectacular for the issue! Voulgaroktonou's piece is the clear winner of Ravennas. But, a decrepit placeholder of a super rare type is better than none at all. A Ravenna Justinian follis is pretty much unobtanium at any price. Description borrowed from the dealer's: Title: *Sear 323* Byzantine Empire. Justinian I (AD 527-565) Æ Follis Attribution: Sear Byzantine 323 Ravenna mint Date: Dated Year 34 - AD 560/1 Obverse: Helmeted and cuirassed bust facing, holding globus cruciger, cross to right Reverse: Large M, A/N/N/O to left, cross above, X / XX / IIII (date) in left field, RAVEN / NA below Size: 34.13mm Weight: 8.81 grams From the Peter Lee Collection. ex Ancient Imports *I haven't pulled out Sear, but I remember Sear's being in pretty decrepit condition and having an irregular flan. Is this the same coin, I wonder? (me) Grade: aVG Coins like this present the conondum; would one rather have the super rare one in decrepit shape or a common one, like Hadrian, in XF? Both have their merits, but with something like Priscus Attalus or an EID MAR, I'd rather have the decrepit one.
What was the name of the Chicago firm in the Schubert Theater, 22 West Monroe, if I remember correctly? They were active in the 90s; the father was an elderly gent from Austria. Anyway, they had a really nice Heraclius Seleucia (or it might have been Isaura), which I should have bought, but I was a broke teenager at the time.
This would be Karl Subak and his son Jon (John?). Have not been to Chicago for several years, but when I have gone, a visit there is one of my highlights.
@nerosmyfavorite68, I must chuckle at your mom's expression, "slag heap" for Byzantine coins. Sounds like that of my wife, whose professional training was in classical Greek art; although she is polite, I know she looks askance at my love for them. "But come on, Susan, here are some of my John VIII stavrata - are they not beautiful?"
That's quite an impressive Byzantine collection. The Ravenna mint has always been my favorite, although 40 nummi rarely show up.
He must have moved. I visited his office in about 1980 and it was on the 19th or 20th floor in a building on East Adams street in downtown Chicago…..as I recollect. I met his son once in about 2003 at the FUN show. He had a table there. I don’t know if the father is still alive. I doubt it. He was in his sixties when I visited with him.
Thank you. Here's my single Ravennate hexagram of Heraclius. 6.04 gr. 25 mm. 6h. Sear 903; Hahn 153; DO 277; BNP 1-3; BM 440-41; T. 221-2; Yannopoulos 390-400.
