2020 was an interesting year. I got less time to dedicate to the hobby, got less coins than in 2019 and paid less overall. Purchases were limited to these areas of interest: byzantine anonymous folles and tetartera, FTR fallen horseman and Julia Domna. All are budget coins. I am still in a phase where I prefer coins that teach me something over the coins that my heirs will sell for profit. 1. Anonymous follis class A2 – IHSH XRISTU I wrote here on this sub-type, without much success. I could not find it documented anywhere else. https://www.cointalk.com/threads/anonymous-follis-class-a2-type-24-ihsh.351718/ This is the second ISH XRISTU coin I get, and my most expensive purchase ever, at 91 EUR shipped. The plan was to keep it untouched. Unfortunately, an artificial patina “paint-like” was applied on the coin, and due to encrustations, it did not adhere well. I had to take some of it off, and took off some of the encrustations too in the process. Pic after below. 2. Anoymous follis class I Just a common coin purchased for 7.5 EUR. While examining it closer, noted that it is overstruck on a follis of Michael VII, SB 1878. The latter, often poorly struck itself, was well flatten and the overstrike is nice and clean. The undertype is visible between 3-6 o’clock on obverse, on a small portion, and does not significantly affect the design of the overtype, like many byzantine overstrikes do. I find the overstrike interesting enough to put this coin high on the 2020 list, although it is not special in any other way. (used part of a CNG coin to show the undertype). 3. Tetarteron of Alexius I, SB 1922 A scarce and nice tetarteron. 4. Half tetarteron of Manuel I, SB 1979 This is an ugly coin by all standards. What makes is special is the combination of dies – a 12.5 mm die for obverse and 15 mm die for reverse. 5. FTR fallen horseman of Constantius II A legend break R-EPARATIO of Constantius II from Constantinopole is scarce, but more interesting than that is the mintmark. The second S is a stigma, and so I learned a new word. 6. A rare Julia Domna from Cappadocia I have a (very) small collection of denari of Julia Domna. In 2020, I got my first provincial; none was planned, but ended buying more provincials (4) than denari (2). This coin is a drachm from Cappadocia, IOYΛIA ΔOMNA C on obverse, MHTΡOΠO KAICAΡIAC on reverse, Venus left, holding apple and sceptre, ET E across field, 17 mm, 2.60 gr. Not documented anywhere, except Mionnet. I could find just another one online, but soon after I got mine, a nicer piece was sold by Munzzentrum in auction 192. Lesson #1 learned here after studying Mionnet and acsearch a bit: if you want to collect affordable rare coins, provincials are the answer. Not so impressed by this, so the other provincials had something else special. Lesson #2 - a rare coin might be rare just because people did not realize yet that it is not. 7. AE of Julia Domna from Germanicopolis, Paphlagonia I got this very rare 30 mm, 16 gr, year 214 (ETCDI) bronze from the obscure Germanicopolis (Gangra) in Paphlagonia because I really liked the reverse and because it was offering the possibility to clean something else than LRBs. The obverse had obvious problems in the field, but portrait seemed less affected. In fact, the bronze disease was extensive on both sides of the portrait towards the rim, going under the patina. I do hate the dirt and bronze disease combination. One never knows what hides under the dirt. Most of my coins leave their dirt and sand/desert patina at the door of the storage box. Hope this coin will survive for a comeback on the forum in 2021. Io Saturnalia, everyone!
Those are a great set of coins for 2020! I think the Tetarteron of Alexius I is my favorite though. Alexius is one of my favorite Byzantine emperors and this is a really nice strike for his coins. Thanks for sharing!
I like them - #7 the best. I hope she cleans up well when you solve the bronze disease problem. ATB, Aidan.
Congrats on the nice finds, @catadc - the Tetarteron of Alexius I, and Cappadocian Julia are my favorites.
I've never seen this kind of cross before, though admittedly my experience with Byzantine coins is minimal. It's neat looking, even without the other features.
Nice coins @catadc . My favorite is your #1. The after photo looks nice! I hope 2021 brings you more coins and time to enjoy them than 2020.
Nice group @catadc , I especially like your example of SBCV-1922 ( #3) Your Manuel SBCV-1979 is very interesting, two die sizes , puzzling but excellent find. Have a Great 2021.