Valentinian, That is an exceptional follis & the latest date I've seen on a follis from Constantinople ! Many thanks for the added info on the other mints .
robinjojo, Your follis wins the prize for the latest date on a Justinian follis posted on this thread ! The rough cleaning marks on this follis are over-shadowed by the coin's rarity & great patina .
Mike, I distinctly remember this coin from an earlier thread . Not only is it a rarity but it has it has great historical importance to a Byzantine specialist !
BenSi, This follis is truly a lovely specimen ! The bold strike & handsome portrait over-shadow the repatination that I wouldn't have noticed from the photo .
I have a follis from Antioch, year XXXV, 32 mm, 18.19 gr, but not in the best shape, and have no decent picture to share. Instead, here's a follis pre-reform, 32 mm, 17.80 gr. No folles were struck in Thessalonica. These are year 39 and 37 half folles.
I have a side portrait Justinian more in the manner of Anastasius: As you can see it's a little light and pre-reform...I suppose Justinian I (527-565 A.D.) AE Follis, Constantinople Mint, 10 grams, 28mm Obverse: Diademed, Draped and Cuirassed Bust Right, DN IVSTINIANVS PP AVG Reverse: Large M, cross above, star to left and right, officina letter below Reference: SB 160, Dumbarton Oaks Collection 30.
Thank you, Al. Why this coin was attributed as an Arab imitation by the auction house is a bit of mystery to me. I think that is why this coin did not attract any bids, other than mine (it was listed under Islamic coinage). There are some Arab imitations of Byzantine folles, but they tend to be based on the folles of Justin II and Sophia, also Heraclius from the following century.
catadc, Your pre-reform follis has worn attractively & has a hefty weight & nice patina . It's weight is very close to the folles of Anastasius I, so it was probably struck early in the reign of Justinian. Pictured below is an Anastasius follis in my collection.
a.c.h., Your follis is unusually light for a pre-reform follis compared to the folles posted by BenSi & catadc . I'm guessing burial corrosion accounts for that . 10 gm, 28 mm
Well @Al Kowsky , I had a group lot that I purchased last year, not everything was attributed but I found a couple that fit the discussion. 30mm 15.2gm year 31 CON 32,93mm 18.4gm year 31 Antioch Halk Follis 27.52mm 9.7gm Not sure where it is from. Its more attractive in hand.
BenSi, Nice group with 2 more year 31 folles . Your year 31 follis from Antioch was struck in the same officina as the one Mat posted .
This is the pride of my East Roman folles group: the largest large size follis I have ever come across: Diameter: 46mm !!! (If anybody has a reference to a larger follis, I would like to see it) DN JVSTINI - ANVS PPP AVG / M between ANNO and greek 15, above cross, below A -- Kyz AD 542/543 Is the legend with three Ps an error? I bought this coin 20 years ago for USD 210,-, which didn't struck me as particularly cheap back then.
While these large bronze coins are usually quite crude, this one has a particularly nice style: DN JVSTINI - ANVS PPAVG / M between ANNO and XII, above cross, below A -- CON 539/540 Ex Heracles Numismatics 2008
Here is a reduced size follis minted in 554/555 DN JVSTINI - ANVS PPAVG / M between ANNO and greek 27, above cross, below A -- NIKO Ex: HarlanBerk, 2004
I also have an early Justinian follis Justin I & Justinian I, Joint reign, April 4-August 1, 527 AD (I'm not sure on what basis this coin was attributed to the joint reign) DN JVSTINI - ANVS P AVG / M between two crosses, cross above, B below -- NIKM Is the legend with only one P an error? EX: Amphora Coins 21.03.2010
It depends on type and quality, I would say. A common Follis in EF and great style can be more expensive than a common solidus in EF. Justinian's folles in EF are actually quite rare as opposed to his solidi. But this is of course no rule or anything.
Tejas, Congrats on capturing this enormous follis ! I think it's worthy of a trophy. The 3 Ps certainly look like an engraver's error .
Tejas, Your year 12 Justinian follis is a beauty ! The year 12 follis is the 1st year this new issue was struck & far less common than the year 13 folles .
Tejas, This is an interesting coin & obviously rare . I'm sure David Sear could shed some light on the attribution . He states in his description for Sear 127 "usually obscure or incomplete" for the obverse inscription, & I'm sure this applies to your example of Sear 128. Sear 128