Roma Numismatics had several good selections of Cherson coins today and while I was anxiously waiting for the Byzantine section to begin....15 minutes left before the lots get auctioned off and....I get yanked by my wife to help with the Thanksgiving preparations . So, I lost several of the lots . I think she is purposely doing this so that she doesn't see another package come through the door . Oh well, it is Thanksgiving and I am certain more will be around the corner. Here is one of the coins I managed to snag when I placed a large bid on it early this morning. Surprised I even won a few, but none of the rare ones which I really wanted... Basil I 'the Macedonian' Æ17. Cherson, AD 879-886. Large B on exergual line; pellets flanking / Cross floriate on three steps; pellets flanking. Sear 1719; DOC 20b; Anokhin 377-382; Oreshnikov 22. 2.89g, 17mm, 12h. As always, if you have any coins from Cherson or elsewhere, do post them!
@Brian Bucklan just posted one he sold to me, so I will not repeat it. I have a site on coins of Byzantine Cherson: http://augustuscoins.com/ed/Cherson/ I, too, noticed the outstanding selection in the Roma auction. The ones I wanted went far over my max. The high prices realized are proof that ugly coins can sell for a lot of money if they are the best.
@dougsmit : That Romanus II is really nice! @Brian Bucklan and @Valentinian: One that is missing from my collection and its in a good state of preservation for these coins! Me like it! Some of those coins were some of the best I have seen for Cherson. Will be difficult to get quality like that in the future... @Valentinian: That reference page is top notch. I have been looking for some of the earlier references, but its not easy to obtain...
Somebody must have been selling their Cherson collection. There were some amazing pieces! Most of my Cherson coins are late Roman, but I do have a Basil I similar to (but not as nice as & more common than) the OP: Theodosius II: Valentinian III: Leo I: Zeno:
Those Roman Cherson coins are great! I wanted one of those as well, but decided to stay away for the Byzantine ones instead, but then my better half called me . Here are a few of my other Cherson coins: Byzantine Empire: Basil I the Macedonian (867-886) Æ Follis, Cherson (Sear 1719) Obv: Large B Rev: Cross crosslet on two steps; • to either side. Byzantine Empire: Constantine VII Porphyrogenitus (913-959) Æ Unit, Cherson (Sear 1771; DOC 29) Obv: Facing bust of Constantine VII, beardless, wearing robes and crown with trefoil ornament Rev: Large K over ω Dim:18.28 mm, 2.64g Byzantine Empire: Constantine VII Porphyrogenitus and Romanus I (913-959) Æ19, Cherson Mint (Sear-1772; DOC 38) Obv: Sear Monogram 49 of Constantine VII and Romanus I Rev: Sear Monogram 50 of Constantine VII and Romanus I Byzantine Empire: Leo VI the Wise (886-912) Æ Follis, Cherson (Sear-1731; DOC 9) Obv: Large ΛЄ Rev: Cross crosslet set on two steps; • to either side
