Anonymous follis, This is a Class A3 29mm but 10.3gm , I know this coin is rough but I really think the Portrait is one of the memorable ones I have seen. Please feel free to share your examples.
I literally have a 100 of these but no A3. Class A Class B Class C Class F Class G Class H Class I Class J Class K Class N
That is a really nice collection David, I really like that class N and your class A. Here is my class B 29.61mm and 11.9gm
Nice @BenSi ! The face of Christ on my coins is just a "smudge" ususally, yours look great! Attractive patina as well!
Great coin. It has one of the better noses I have seen! My wife picked up a hand full at a recent show. Not much in the way of noses on mine.
I agree, that's a very appealing portrait on that A3, very nice B too! My A3 (or possibly light A2... it's 12.5g) is also my favourite anon. follis portrait: I also like my B (need new photos of both of these): That A1 is spectacular, @David@PCC, and of course the Basilacius!!
Nice portrait (and nose ) on that A3, @BenSi! I have a smattering of mostly unremarkable folles from a mixed lot. Class A3, SB 1818 Class A3 or is it Class A2? (12.3 gm, 29 mm), SB 1818 Class D, SB 1836 Class G, SB 1867
I had theory on that, @chrsmat71 I've owned two and they were the same way. The face was worn but most of the other details were visible. At first I thought that it was due to the face being the highest point on the coin. Later it occurred to me that it could be the result of people instinctively rubbing their thumb over the face over many years and wearing it down. People may have kept the coins as religious tokens or good luck charms.
I see this as a real possibility. I am particularly fond of the large A2's which come in a huge array of styles both considering the scroll decorations and the lettering. My favorite is 15.7g, worn and holed. I am fond of the style of the letter A's. Do you think this hung on a ribbon around the neck of a believer? The placement of the hole rotates the face to orient properly in the right hand. When you get a holed coin, ask yourself why the hole is where it is. Random? I don't think so. Are coins like this as important to numismatics as slabbed proofs? That is your decision to make for yourself. My A3 has been shown here too many times so I'll show another A2 (17g). I believe this one was made noseless by the high relief. I assume everyone has these links: http://www.forumancientcoins.com/numiswiki/view.asp?key=Anonymous Follis http://www.forumancientcoins.com/numiswiki/view.asp?key=Anonymous Byzantine Class A Folles
Though harsh, stained with irregular shape.. They're still very dear and "morally" valuable to me, just like relics.
Only one of these for me so far. It’s a bit rough, but came in the uncleaned lot I bought (thus, it cost me 15 cents...) Byzantine Empire Basil II and Constantine VIII, r. 976-1025 A.D. AE Follis/40 Nummi, Type A2, 32.92 mm x 13.6 grams Obv.: +ΕΜΜΑΝΟVΗΛ. I̅C̅ left, X̅C̅ right. Bust of Christ facing, wearing nimbus crown, pallium and columbium, holding book of gospels Rev.: +ΙhSЧS / XRISTЧS / bASILℇЧ / bASILℇ. in four lines, T Below Ref.: SBCV 1813
Here’s an early photograph of an anonymous follis. My first Byzantine coin, ex-Kern. Early photo so bad quality.
Here is another that the nose has seen wear, I spent some time in my collecting career looking for great examples, this one is an A2 or A3 because of weight. Size 31.24mm Weight 10.10gm
Great coins all the way around. I am trying to develop a sub-collection of these. Here is an A3 (9.69g): And here is another A3 (10.24g) with crosses in the nimbus, book and ornament: It seems like the cross one, above, was likely an A2 that was clipped as the coin was debased over time.
Another , Class F, the green on Christ's nose is not bd, it is solid but I cant remove it, I lack the skill and knowledge to do so; but it is still a really nice example.
My only true A2 , weight of 15gm , very large 34.52 mm/ Attractive, worn coin, but I am hoping to get a gem someday.
This One is a mystery , it is lacking its identity. It is a Brockage. 22mm and only 5gm but what coin is it? Bigger than a tetartera but might be a small anonymous follis. .