I was lucky to win two gold pieces in yesterday's CNG auction. The first is my first Byzantine gold coin, of Constans II: Constans II. 641-668. AV Solidus (20mm, 4.40 g, 6h). Constantinople mint, 10th officina. Struck 651/2-654. Crowned and draped facing bust, holding globus cruciger / Cross potent set on three steps; I//CONOB. DOC 19j; MIB 23; SB 956. VF, a few light scratches. I'm really enjoying hunting for ancient gold. Not rare but at $350? Sold! Post your Byzantine coins!
Ya gotta love old Constans II for churning out so many solidi to make them affordable to collectors 1400 years later.
@Nicholas Molinari For 350.00 I would have bought that too. A beautiful coin for your first Byzantine gold. Here are 3 of mine Anastasius Semissis Theophilos Solidus Justinian Solidus
Although not Byzantine, it is my only gold: VALENS AV Solidus OBVERSE: DN VALENS PER F AVG, pearl-diademed, draped & cuirassed bust right REVERSE: RESTITVTOR REIPUBLICAE, Valens standing right, holding labarum in right hand & Victory on globe in left, cross to left. Mintmark star ANTE star Struck at Antioch, 364 AD 3.6g, 19mm Antioch RIC 2d,xxxvii-5
He had a pretty long stint. I'm interested to read more about him, especially anything from medieval writers.
Great coins all! No gold for me yet, but I'm beginning to get the itch to participate in auctions where gold coins are featured. Does anyone know which auctions/auction houses tend to feature them? Sorry if this is a dumb question.
Almost every auction featuring ancient coins has some gold. CNG always features some. When I first started collecting I never anticipated ever owning gold coins because they were "out of my league", meanwhile I always had no problem spending just as much buying lots of bronze in many increments.
That Theophilus solidus is awesome. I can certainly see myself getting more of these, and one like that would be high on my list.
pretty coin for 350, well played nicholas! if i do get a gold ancient, it will likely be a byzantine...the only ones that really approach what i can pay for a coin. i won't post my AE constans coins on this lovely gold coins thread...they are NOT pretty.
I also received this scyphate hyperpyron of John III last week. I'm embarrassed to say that I know nothing about the coinage or history of this period - I just liked the coin. I have lots of homework to do...
I almost bought one of those last week. It was on MA Shops for an excellent price. When I can back to it it was gone.
Super coin! Kids tend to like the Santa Claus portrait. Mine isn't as nice: One interesting tidbit about Constans II is that he was the last emperor to serve as consul, in 642. My other Byzantine gold coin is a tremissis of Justinian II. I got tired of trying to find a half decent portrait in bronze, at a reasonable price!
Here are two of mine.... AV Histamenon 22mm/ 4.44g. Constantinople Mint Nicephorus II 963-69AD AV Solidus 20mm./ 4.41g. Constantinople Mint/ 9th officina Leontius II 695-98AD
Here is one of my "better" Byzantine coins.... AV Solidus ND Constantinople Mint 20mm./ 4.40g. Theodosius III of Adramytium 715-17AD I had a bad day today, cut grass in pouring rain all day
Nope, nary a one. I say, if they won't mint Man-Faced-Bulls or Acheloos... then it AIN'T WORTH COLLECTING! (Right, @Nicholas Molinari ???)
