Byzantine Empire Manuel I Komnenos (AD 1118 – 1180) AE Tetarteron, Constantinople mint, struck ca. 1143-1180 Obv.: St. George draped and cuirassed, bust facing, holding spear and shield. Rev.: Manuel I crowned, bust facing, holding labarum and globus cruciger. Ref.: SB 1970 Ex Sallent Collection When I think of the Byzantine Empire I tend to think of the early period under emperors like Justinian I who spent their time struggling to regain the former glory of a unified Roman Empire or else the very late empire of Constantine XI that was simply fighting for survival. However, I was recently gifted this great coin by our own @Sallent and it has really made me more aware that there were periods in between these eras where the Byzantines prospered and even flourished under competent emperors. The Tetarteron was introduced as part of the currency reform of Manuel’s grandfather Alexios I ca. 1092 to replace the Follis. For unknown reasons it shares the name of a previous Byzantine gold coin. Manuel I Byzantine Empire ca. AD 1180 (Wikipedia) Manuel I was one of the last Byzantine emperors to reign over the century of prosperity and rejuvenation that historians refer to as the Komnenian restoration (AD 1081 – 1185). Manuel was a skilled diplomat who made great strides in opening up positive relations with the powers of western Europe and even for a brief period seemed on the verge of gaining direct control of territory in southern Italy and concluding a lasting alliance between the eastern and western Christian churches. While he was not wholly successful in this, the serious attempt does show how much the empire had recovered that such aims were both feasible and nearly successful. Manuel also expertly managed the movement of the Second Crusade through his territory by deploying a large force of Byzantine troops to shadow the movement of the crusader armies and serve as “escorts” for the disorganized and plunder hungry crusaders through to the Levant. The Komnenians had worked hard to strengthen the Byzantine army over the eleventh and twelfth centuries and Manuel scored some important victories against his enemies in the Balkans and the east as well as managing to secure ever increasing influence in the Crusader States. However his success made him overconfident and he was led into an ambush (after turning down favorable peace terms) by the Seljuks and defeated at the battle of Myriokephalon. While the empire recovered from this blow during his reign it would still constitute the high water mark for Byzantine reconquest of territory lost to the Muslims. (Left) The Crusader States Between the First and Second Crusade – (Right) Manuel I and Empress Maria of Antioch. Please post your; · Byzantine coins! · Crusader States coins! · Anything whether relevant or not!
Nice addition! Manuel I, (1143-1180 A.D.) Billon Trachy O.: Christ, bearded, seated facing on throne without back, wearing nimbus cruciger, pallium, colobium, Gospels in left; no stars; in field / IC – XC R.: MANYHΛ ∆ECΠ; the Theotokos (Virgin Mary) standing facing at right, crowning the emperor standing at left, holding labarum and globus cruciger; M above Mary's outstretched hand. Constantinople mint, 1167 - 1183 A.D. 28mm 4.1g SB 1966
@Curtisimo that is a really nice coin. I have a fascination and new found love for ancient coins because of the history that is learned with each piece. Thank you to all in this section of the forum that give the history lesson with the coin. It makes the experience of collecting and sharing here more enjoyable for me. I recently purchased an uncleaned Byzantine piece and am giving it a week under water to help get more crud off of it. Hopefully it will have some markings left on it. It has a thimble like shape where the center is evenly raised as if it had been struck by a rod. Is it common to find pieces like this? Or is this an actual type identifiable by its shape? I wish I had a picture from the side to show the concave shape, but this is what I have with me.
It is not uncommon for Byzantine coins to exhibit a cup shape. I'm not sure if it's the exact thing you are describing but I read an article on the topic a while back you might find interesting. http://www.coinweek.com/featured-news/byzantine-coins-become-cup-shaped/
Indeed it is. Awesome article thanks for sharing. I like the different theories for the purpose of the cup shape and the explanation of the different alloys used.
intersting writeup and a nice coin. Here are my only Byantine coins. JUSTINIAN I (527-565). GOLD Solidus. (21.74 mm, 4.45 g) Constantinople. Obv: D N IVSTINIANVS P P AVG. Helmeted, draped and cuirassed bust facing, holding globus cruciger and shield. Rev: VICTORIA AVGGG Θ / CONOB. Angel standing facing, holding long staff surmounted by cross and globus cruciger; star to right. Sear 139. Condition: Very fine. Ex: Numismatik-Nauman auction 48, Lot 693 November 20, 2016. Anastasius I (491-518), Semissis, Constantinople, c. 507-518, 2.00g, 17.90 mm. Obv: Diademed, draped and cuirassed bust right Anastasius PP AVG Rev: Victory seated right, inscribing shield set on knee; star to left, staurogram to lower right; Victoria AVGG. CONOB in Exergue CONOB. MIBE 10; DOC 9; S. 7. Very fine. London Coin Galleries, Auction 4 - Part 1Lot 1144 June 1, 2017 Theophilus (AD 829-842), with Constantine and Michael II. AV solidus (20.07 mm, 4.38 gr. Constantinople, Obv: *ΘЄOFI-LOS bASILЄ Θ, Rev: MIXAHL S COhSTAhTIN', Sear 1653. Berk 249. DO 3. Ex: Harlen J Berk Purchased November 28, 2016.
That OP coin seems so familiar. Great write up. Here is my Crusader States coin, our dear friend Bohemund III And here are the Seljuq Turks, arch enemies of the Byzantines during that period. And don't forget, the Crusades were also happening in Iberia, we just called them "The Reconquista". Here is Sancho IV El Bravo, Ca. 1285-1294.
Nice coin Curtisimo, and another very interesting write up on the history surrounding the coin, I learn something everyday on CT thanks to people like you.
Thanks AA Nice Sallent! I didn't realize your collecting interest extended into this timeframe. Some great and very historically interesting examples! I've been a fan of your Theophilus since you first posted it! Such a cool coin and great value. I really like your Justinian I as well. I've been meaning to pick up a nice example of his from the Salona mint but haven't zeroed in on one yet.
@Curtisimo , It's not so much that I'm interested in that time period as it is taking advantage of decent bargains or coins that popped up at the right time financially for me, and I got them. Slowly but surely I've been building up my medieval collection even though I've never meant to actively pursue them. I'll give you an example. I never particularly craved a Hungarian coin, but when you see something like this in an auction at the opening price of $45, with zero bids and 1 hour left in the auction, I couldn't help myself. Especially with that toning. Bela IV AR denar
one of that denomination is on my list for sure! nice gift from a nice guy! I really need to do a reshoot of this one (manuel I trachy)...
Here is a 1/2 tetarteron (2.44g) of Manuel, also featuring St. George: And a tetarteron (3.88g) of his grandfather, Alexius I (1081-1118): I don't have a tetarteron of his father John II (1118-1143), but i do have this aspron trachy (my best scyphate coin, I think):
The OP photograph with the appearance of the coin just above water gives me the heebies! How often have we heard about keeping coins away from humidity? @Curtisimo, if you want to use a cool special photographic effect, go ahead, but I recommend you avoid water.
Haha. @TIF said something very similar in regard to bronze coins the first time she commented on my background template. But don't worry this is special water designed specifically not to corrode coins. Besides... when has water ever hurt anyone? DISCLAIMER: No coins or models were harmed in the making of this post.
