Most collectors like pretty coins but I find a fascination in some of the other extreme. Since this is a minority opinion, I won this piece of scrap metal for $9.01 on eBay. It is a Byzantine 40 nummi of Constans II Sear 1109 overstruck on an earlier type I would like to identify (help?). The striking really squished the coin creating a very ragged flan as is quite common for coins of Constans II. I already had one of these similar but not as extreme an not as impaired by the undertype detail. Why I wanted another, I can not explain. Now I see through online resources that these are in no way unusual and not even a little extreme in their ragged edges. These are common coins. Who else has one?
What odd little scraps the 7th century citizens of Constantinople had in their money bags. I have one that was overstruck on something that was neatly quartered. You can even see where holes were drilled along the cut lines before the chisel was used... Constans II, AD 630-668. Æ Follis, 17x22mm, 2.6g, Constantinople, AD 641-643, Overstruck. Obv.: ЄN TVTO NIKA; Constans, beardless, standing facing, wearing crown and chlamys and holding long cross and globus cruciger. Rev.: Large m between ANA and [NЄOS]; above, star; [in exergue, regnal date.] Reference: Sear 1000.
Let me join the party. This one is the same type as Doug's, namely, Sear 1109, but haven't figured out the undertype yet. All in know is that if I rotate the obverse 80 degrees clockwise, you can make out the globus cruciger and an emperor's shoulder. The legend is partly visible, however, I can't determine the reverse...
I venture a guess that it is overstruck on an earlier of the same issue, but flipped. The best evidence being what could be Constantine IV on the right. I purchased a hoard of around 400 of these though 98% were from Constantinople or imitations. Therefore I will show a few of my favorites, sadly none from Syracuse. Constans II 644 to 645 AD Mint: Ravenna AE Follis Obvs: DN CONSTANTINVS PP. Bust facing, wearing crown and chalamys, and holding globus cruciger. Revs: M between ANNO and numerals II II. Cross above, RAV in exergue. 20x26mm, 3.7g Ref: SB 1138, Gr.--, DOC 206 I go back and forth on this one whether II or III is in the left field. If it is a II, then it is unpublished. Constans II 642/643 AD Mint: Constantinople AE Follis Obvs: ЄN T TO NIKA, Constans holding cross and gl. Cr. Revs: Large M, cross III possibly II left. NEOζ to right. Є below. 12x24mm, 5.1g Ref: cf SB 1002, cf DOC 62 Constans II 647/648 AD Mint: Constantinople AE Follis Obvs: (ЄN T T)O (NIKA), Constans holding cross and gl. Cr. Revs: Cross bar on large M, NЄOζ right. Double exergual line, A below. 19x22mm, 3.8g Ref: cf DOC 66b, SB -- Note: This officina not listed, unpublished. This one I should send to Sear to see how he identifies it. If anyone can identify this one I will be impressed.
I also love coins like this. I think I've figured out the undertype, though there may in fact be two. The one I'm pretty sure is there is Sear 1108, an earlier Syracuse issue of Constans II. Here is an extremely pretty one that I'm sure either of us would be willing to own, even though it lacks any fun puzzles: The key detail is the date on the right side of the obverse, IA = 11. (INΔ on the left for Indiction, so 11th indiction or 652/3.) The bottom of the "A" is easily seen on the top of the reverse of your coin. Which would mean the drapery along the right hand side of your coin's reverse may be the bottom of the emperor's cloak on the undertype. It's pretty wide on your coin, but occasionally the bottom of the cloak is pretty wide on 1108, e.g. on this one: (On the other hand, maybe you have two undertypes, both 1108 and something in the range of 1103-1107, with a bust of the emperor, and the drapery is on a bust, not a standing figure. I incline against this view though.) Neither of the coins above is mine. I do have the next one in the Sear catalogue after yours, though, 1110, with young Heraclius and Tiberius added to the reverse:
Isn't that one the same type as the previous one in your list? or maybe an imitation of it? Admittedly the top of the "M" isn't very M-ish... but otherwise very similar, no?
I don't believe it's unofficial, psuedo/Arab ones have a distinct style to them. That lot had around a 100 of them. At first glance it is very similar except there appears to be an arch or doorway containing the cross. Then again that goes against everything that comes before it in terms of designating it's denomination. Possibly an over strike, though I don't know what could cause that design. There is also only a single exergual line instead of two. I think they are related, but possibly some unknown type. In the last 20 years I've only seen two like the one above it for sale, mine being one of them. Needless to say they are a very rare type. For now it is just an odd duck.
That's an interesting puzzle, Doug. I thought using the excellent labarum.info site (an easily scrollable list of Byzantine coins by Sear number) might make it easier to scan for an undertype match but nothing jumped out. To me it looks like the undertype is oriented by turning the obverse 90 degrees. My first thought was that it looked like a Leo the Wise, but that can't be . Given the crispness of the undertype, it seems likely that the undertype is also a Constans II, right? Otherwise, wouldn't the undertype device probably have more wear, assuming the undertype is a Byzantine coin? I was momentarily excited when it looked like a solidus or hexagram might match-- maybe the bronze flan was accidentally struck with a solidus or hexagram die, then corrected-- but a second look showed that probably isn't the case.
I would love to have a full legend, indiction dated coin. Most/all identifiable ones I have seen are earlier Constans coins. I am unclear on why some of them were overstruck. Some have weight differences but do all?
That's what I'm saying, except you rotate the reverse 90 degrees clockwise. Here's an image showing the match with Sear 1108: Having done the actual rotation, I'm even more certain that's the undertype. I think I can even see little feet, but it's the bottom of that A on the right that's the real giveaway. You don't see that on any other earlier Constans II of Syracuse.
Funky flan. Loads of character on that one. You could use it as a throwing star if you're ever attacked by ninjas (or wish to become one).
