Beautiful Byzantines

Here is one that I bought a while ago as an unidentified Trebizond coin, but it seems to be Sear 2538, supposedly, an unpublished coin of John VI and John V. I can't verify this as I couldn't find any pictures of 2538 anywhere. What do you think?

 

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I can't make anything out on one side but I definitely see a Nimbate figure on horseback on the other.

 

I think we play in different leagues. It was fun how somebody above said "CT members have nice byzantine coins". If by CT members we understand you, BenSi and Panzerman, then yes, it is true. The rest of us saw nice byzantines only in pictures, and I am 99.99% certain that we do not have a Sear 2538.

 

The problem with several of the byzantine coins that are somewhat unpublished is that it is either truly unpublished or it has been published elsewhere. My hope was that, in this case, since it is mentioned in DOC and Sear, but without pictures, that somebody has some material on these type of coinage in reference form. Maybe in Bendall's book which I do not have...

 

It that were my coin I would eliminate other possibilites, can't be too many similar types. Or you could ask Sear.

 

Thanks David. That was the first thing I did and thus I exhausted both Trebizond and all other coins in Sear. This coin is the only match in regards to Obverse and Reverse. I checked all of my references and none of them mention this coin other than DOC and Sear. I'll see if I can talk to Sear...

 

In that case, that must be it assuming the authors are correct. Only did it once, but he responded by email to an inquiry I had about an unpublished Heraclius (identification only). I can give you his address if you like.

 

Please do as it would be an awesome verification

 

In the concordance 4 in DOC Vol. 5, pt 2, p. 547, that relates the Sear numbers with their parallel references, Sear 2538 = Bendall's PCPC 299, where it is listed as a copper assarion. Yours certainly looks like billon. The Bendall coin is plated, although it is not as clear as your example. If you lack Bendall's book, I can send you the image. I don't have a scanner at home, but I plan to photograph some coins later today and I can photograph the image and send it to you if you like. Your mounted saint is George - I see the first alpha for Ά[γιος], then Γε/ώρ[γιος]. And there are certainly 2 imperial figures on the other side.

 

Thanks for the confirmation. The coin is definitely a I don't have Bendall's PCPC and thus those scans will definitely come in handy.

 

Here are some odds and ends...
AV Histamenon ND Constantinople Romanus III
AV Semissis ND Syracuse Mint Theophilus
AV Hyperypron ND The ssalonika Mint Alexius I
AV Hyperypron ND Thessalonika Mint John II

 

Wow! A spectacular group--and far more than a few! I see some classic rarities and many wonderful coins. Thanks for showing us some of your collection.

 

My only Byzantine- Zeno solidus - Constantinople mint c476-491 AD

 

Tony1982, I like your solidus of Zeno . The toning accentuates the coins details . For comparison here is a solidus of Zeno struck under the authority of Theodoric, the Ostrogothic king (one of my favorite coins).


Theodoric (for Zeno) AD 493-526, AV solidus: 4.47 gm, 21 mm, 6 h.

 

How about a Class C issue by Michael IV, 1034-1041. Its beautiful.

 

BenSi, Lovely coin ! The image of Christ is almost ghost-like .

 

Thanks Al, your coin ( Beautiful) and the previous posts make me want some more gold. It might be an expensive day. Happy New Year!

 

Originally, when I started collecting Byzantines I set a goal of getting a follow or aspirin trachy of the “best” emperor from each dynasty. I read about all of the emperors and chose which ones I thought were the best out of them. Here is a group shot. As with all things I have a few overlaps. Currently there are three left from the original list: Constantine VI and Irene, Isaac II, and Michael VIII. If you all want some identification for the ones below, please let me know. All of them have already been posted by others.

 

When I went to the Summer FUN show this year I did get to see this. I essentially want the follis version of this. I like the five portraits.

 

Thanks I think the toning is what drew me to the coin originally, yours is a beauty. I like how the issue struck was by a barbarian ruler !