Despot Manuel Komnenos-Ducas Trachy (1230-1237)

Obv: O / AΓ / HOC / ΘEO / ΔP / O / C.
Half-length figure of St. Theodore facing, holding lance over shoulder and shield.

Rev: MANOVHΛ ΔECΠOT - AΓΙΟC ΔΗΜΗΤΡΙΟC.
Half-length figures of Despot Manuel and St. Demetrius facing, both holding sword; above, star and cloud with manus dei blessing emperor.

Thessalonica Mint (1230-1237). Sear 2182. DOC V, 8. LBC 363. (Excuse my photo...I tried to "cut" the coin out of its background and imitate dealer photos. This is one I pulled out of a lot!)

 

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Interesting coin. Also Welcome to CoinTalk.

 

Thanks!

 

Usually trachy coins were struck twice rocking the dies between strukes and producing many poorly aligned doublestrikes. Is this an example of one that was not struck the second time?

 

I think it may have been struck "flat" so to speak. This is common with trachys and on my example, you can see how the top and right of the obverse are essentially unstruck

 

In the 12th century you are correct on the two strikes without question but I see evidence that the practices began to change in the 13th century and the copper trachea began to get smaller and much cruder in design. One strike became the lazy norm. Just an opinion.

 

Yes, quality certainly dropped in 1204 onwards

 

Another example of one strike, the metal was so thin I do not think it could have survived two.

The coin is currently unattributed but enough is there to do the job.

 

Thessalonica. Small module. Obv: Christ Pantokrator seated facing on throne. Rev: St. Helena and St. Constantine standing facing, holding between them a patriarchal cross. Sear 2049 (Constantinople); LBC 125-6

 

Nice job @The Trachy Enjoyer . your very quick. Welcome to the board.

 

Thanks!

 

Not an area i collect but, many moons ago i purchased a large group of coins which included some Trachy.
I did manage to ID them once but have since lost the info.
Pretty sure the first one is Manuel & at least 1 other is an " Angelus "
I could be wrong though

 

Your are missing the other sides but all are attributable from one side alone.

1. Manuel ( SBCV-1966)
2 Alexius III ( Need other side to know what variation.)
3. Isaac II 1st rule SBVV-2003)
4. Alexius III ( Again , need both sides)

 

Beat me to it!

 

Interesting trachy. I got quite some recently, but this is my latest one:


From Michael VIII Palaiologos, quite nice for the type. Latin and post-Latin trachea are generally quite crude.

 

Indeed! That trachy has an excellent style, perhaps an earlier issue of Michael VIII? Style seems to become less realistic on coinage as the Palaeologan dynasty progresses which probably coincides (at least somewhat) with the resurgence of art in late Byzantium https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Palaeologan_Renaissance

 

Nice coins, It seems like a good idea to post one of my un-id'd trachys in this thread, this one is Latin, no bigger than 16mm. I know the reverse is tough, but I can't get a good pic of it for the life of me. It's a weak but all there jesus with the IC XC iconography. If you could help that would be great, it's a nicer one with a legend

 

Welcome to CoinTalk Juan Nine!

 

Sear 2022; DOC IV, Type B, pl XLIX 2; LBC 26-34

 

Thank you both!