Byzantine Phocas 602-610

Great coins all

 

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Great looking coins, everyone. I like Byzantine stuff and I especially like Phocas - he was such an awful guy. His column is the newest ancient monument in the Roman Forum, but you probably already knew that: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Column_of_Phocas

I have a couple, here is one that I really like because of its weird, bright blue partial patina:

 

Nice catch, Warren! Here are a few of my Phocas pieces exhibiting different styles, plus a few non-Phocas coins with prominent cross (if not multiple crosses!)

 

This is a Pseudo/Byz fals. Notice at this point in time the cross is present. This circulated in Balad al Sham after the Arab conquest of Byzantine lands such as Syria, Lebanon. Most likely looking at patination and style, it was struck in Damascus. I'll post another Byz coin later....I hope I can find it in whatever file it is lurking. Nice coin Valentinian and great pics and info on all who have provided fun stuff to this thread. Cheers!

 

We could play a "most crosses on an Islamic coin" game too. The most I can manage is three:


AE fals, struck under Mu 'awiya (661-680) in Hims (Emesa). Obv. Standing imperial figure, holding long cross and globus cruciger; bismillah to left; K/A/Λ/O/H (= “good”) to right. Rev. Large M; above, monogram flanked by stars; Δ below; Є/M/[H]-C/i/C across; tayyib (= “good”) in exergue.

 

I did locate it, and as promised, here is the a coin that bears many crosses. I have five or six of these Class A2 S.1813, or class A3 S.1818 depending on Metcalf or Grierson who does no recognize the class A3. Ah the fun of Byzantine numimatics. It has a luscious dusty olive patina.

 

The variety with many crosses on obverse is much scarcer than other ornaments. Most are found in very poor grade.

 

With over 60 varieties of ornamentation, the crosses type is more desirable than most.

Sear 1813. Large at 32-30 mm, 12.74 grams.
This example has seven crosses visible, four on the obverse and three on the reverse (above and below the legend, as well as the first symbol in the legend, +IhSUS ...

@Black Friar's has unusually well-preserved facial features on Christ. Mine is more typical for having the face worn almost flat.

 

That's an extremely lovely example. Congrats!

 

Thanks for the feedback. I purchased it from Alex Basok at the NYC ANA Convention years ago. Glad you enjoyed the photo.

 

It still is far and away a most excellent example. Cool Beans.

 

I forgot I had one of those folles. It was one of the first Byzantine coins I bought and it sucked me into this wonderful series:

 

That my friend is a great coin! From one sucked in to another: Welcome aboard.
Cheers.