a shiny yellow upgrade to my Isaac II junk boxer

It's been 30 years since I last picked up an Isaac II, the previous one being an inexpensive one from Allen Berman's Cheap Ancients lists (I miss those).

I decided to make this Isaac II my gold treat coin. I've always wanted an Isaac II, so this one was welcome. With the gold prices being what they are and me being a budget collector, this is probably the last gold coin for a while.

Had the gold content dipped under 20% by the time of Isaac? The color difference is apparent next to 5th century solidi. While the fabric of the Nicephorus III histamenon is more impressive, the N III is more pale.

It adds cheer to a snowy day.

One hopes that the rest of the baby Jesus is tucked under the folds of Mary's outfit. The head only is kind of weird.



Attribution: Sear Byzantine 2000 Constantinopolis mint
Date: 1185-1195
Obverse: MP-ΘV the Virgin, nimbate, seated facing on throne, wearing pallium and maphorium, holding nimbate head of infant Christ with both hands
Reverse: ICAAKIOC ΔЄC, emperor standing facing, NOT holding cruciform scepter to left, Archangel Michael, nimbate, standing facing in military attire to right, Manus Dei / sword in sheath between them, Θ-X / MH across fields
Size: 26.49mm
Weight: 4.40 grams

Description: ...die shift. From the Eardley and Ethel Madsen Collection, co-publishers, along with David R Sear, of the Journal of the Society for Ancient Numismatics from 1969-2002.

 

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Big CONGRATS @nerosmyfavorite68! That's a leap of an upgrade! :-D

I think under Isaac II the gold content of a hyperpyron was still 20.5K which was 0.854 fineness. It didn't begin to dip until the early 13th century when it became 18K.

From Isaac II the only coin I have is a mere, humble, bronze tetarteron (with a worn, flat-faced archangel).

Isaac II Angelus, 1185-1195 AD, AE Tetarteron.
Thessalonica mint.
Obv.: Bust of archangel Michael, facing, nimbate, holding jeweled scepter and globus-cruciger; O X AP-X MI (or similar).
Rev.: Bust of Isaac, crowned, bearded, wearing loros, holding cruciform scepter and akakia; ICA AKI OC ΔE CΠO TH C (or similar).
Weight: 4.0 gr. Diam. 23 mm. (Oblong flan.)
Attrib.: Sear 2005

 

Oops, by 20% I meant 20 karats.

That's a cool tetarteron.