I've always loved the mainland Italian Byzantine mints but after Justinian they become increasingly scarce and expensive. I became very attracted to the lovely Ravenna Solidi in coin references, witht the neat annular border. That's a bucket list coin. This type seems somewhat common for such a late time in Byzantine Italy? But it's not something one comes across every day. It's small and is in fairly good shape for the type, but it was ugly on day one. The seller has the reverse first, I believe. Looks better in hand. Anyway, I'm sure the non-Byzantine collectors won't be too impressed by my ugly little guy but I'm kind of excited to have an issue from Rome so late in the game. After Constantine IV it's pretty much fuhgettaboutit unless one has Bill Gates' type money. The Heraclius 20 nummi cost 3 times as much. Constantine IV (668-685). Æ 20 Nummi (14mm, 1.58g, 6h). Rome. Crude crowned facing bust, holding spear. R/ Crowned facing busts of Heraclius and Tiberius; small X/X between, cross above, ROM. MIB 115; DOC 83; Sear 1234. ex London Ancient Coins. I remember Pegasi having a tray of mainland Italian Byzantines at a c. 2010 show. They had a 40 nummi Heraclius of Ravenna, but wanted $700. What was the population of Rome in 670? Probably under 10,000? Oh, I got my first Catania in the same order.
Ugly but awesome! I recently got my first mainland Italy Byzantine as well. Though not nearly as late in the empire as yours and only a lowly decanummium of Justinian I from Ravenna. I also got my first Catania as well, a decanummium of Heraclius. Justinian I AE Decanummium 527-565 AD (Reginal year 29/~556 AD) Ravenna Obverse: DN IVSTINIANVS PP AVG, helmeted, cuirassed bust facing, holding cross on globe and shield Reverse: Large I, ANNO to left, regnal year 29 to right, all within wreath No mintmark Heraclius AE Decanummium 610-641 AD(Reginal Year 10/~620 AD) Catania mint. DN ERACLIVS PP AVG or DN ERACLI PP AVG, crowned, draped, cuirassed bust facing with short beard, holding cross on globe Obverse: large I, ANNO to left, regnal year 10 to right. Mintmark CAT
I am on the lookout for mainland Italian Byzantine coins as well. It’s my favorite area to collect with Byzantine coinage. But I don’t have a whole lot of them because like you said, they can get expensive. Here’s my favorite of what I have: 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
I think you would have liked Harlan Berk's 1990s pick bins. Lots of neat stuff. They had price tiers. One was $30, one was 20, and maybe there was a 40. There were tons of catanias and lots of Heraclius SCL and Heraclius/Constans Alexandrias. I picked out a decent Justinian II 20 nummi and a very decrepit Menander? reduced Tetradrachm. Oh, and a ton of Saka Tets in the 40 buck bin.
We got to go through his 10/$100 pick bin at the Whitman show right before covid hit. My son and I had a blast sifting through it.
I guess it's also my first Constantine IV. There's a lot of nice Sicilian Folles of him, but the large Constantinople issues are hard to get outside of an auction. Stay tuned for something better!
