I've been drifting around lately, pottering around the house, reorganizing the dust bunnies (who are unionized now), reading, thinking about labeling more coins and otherwise engaged in mostly useless activities. The last couple of days were a bit surreal due to COVID injection #2. For some reason the tinnitus that I have been graced with for many years, began to modulate after that injection, as if someone was manipulating a volume control. Well, that has gone away, and now I back to a nice consistent ring in definitely a minor key. I have been buying coins, but not intensively, which is a really good thing. As I mentioned in other posts, I do not want the collection to reach a critical mass, which would suddenly collapse, taking most of San Jose with it. I've been looking around for a while for a nice type half follis of Rome of Justinian. Finally able to buy one in the Roma E-sale 83. It didn't have any bids, probably due to a pit on Justinian's check, an off-center reverse, and a somewhat ragged flan. Perhaps I am a softy when I come to knit-picking, and I am often more inclined to forgive a coin for its faults than not. At any rate, here it is. There was a Roma Justinian follis in that auction as well, lot 899, but it hammered at a price equivalent to the GNP of some poorer countries (well, not quite, but it does have a dramatic effect). Justinian I Æ 20 Nummi. Rome, AD 538-544. D И IVSTIANVS P P AV (sic), pearl-diademed, draped and cuirassed bust to right / Large K, star to left, cross to right; all within wreath. MIBE 222; DOC 325a; Sear 301. 7.00g, 22mm, 6h. Good Very Fine. Rare. Now I imagine a good many of you are familiar with the works of Robert Graves. I am currently reading Count Belisarius, first published in 1938. I copy that I got, a 1938 edition, turned out to be in pretty sorry shape - cracked spine, separating yellowed pages and covers that are frayed and look very tired being covers. However, with some archival tape I was able to address, albeit on a temporary basis, the issues of the spine and separated pages. Getting back to the work itself, I am finding it a very satisfying read and recommend it to anyone interested in this period. I really like Graves' style of writing. The book is full of interesting facts, such as Theodora, Justinian's wife and Empress, worked as a prostitute prior to their marriage. Also, Antonina, Belisarius' wife, apparently helped to introduce silk production in the Byzantine Empire, thereby breaking China's monopoly. Graves brings to life the times and people during this critical period in history. This book has been reprinted, so unless you want to spend some bucks on the first edition, or spend time taping together a disintegrating copy, a newer book is the way to go.
