I bought an unidentified Byzantine trachy (cup-shaped coin) on eBay. Like many late Byzantine trachy, the flan has problems. It is bent and has a small hole. But, it also has remarkably clear lettering. I have the major reference books, but did not find it with some looking through the plates of several Byzantine-coin books. However, I knew it was clear enough to identify eventually. When I did, with the help of @Voulgaroktonou, I saw it was in some of those books, but their examples were in such poor condition they were not easy to recognize as the same type. It is Theodore I, founder of the short-lived Empire of Thessalonica. Theodore Comnenus-Ducas Angelus, emperor of the Empire of Thessalonica, 31 mm. Originally cup-shaped, but partially squashed since then. Struck c. 1227/8 St. Demetrius (patron saint of Thessalonica) O AΓIOC ΔHMHTPIOC Emperor left and Virgin with halo right holding patriarchal cross (two crossbars) ΘЄOΔωPOC ΔЄC MP [above Mary] ΘV [to the right] (Theodore Despot. Mother of God) Sear 2167. DO IV.II Theodore 9 Empire of Thessaloncia (The tan-colored area on the map from wikipedia). Theodore Angelus Comnenus Ducas, 1225-1230. In 1215 the Crusaders ("Latins") were in charge of Constantinople, a region around it, and some of Greece (the tan-colored area on the map from wikipedia) including Thessalonica, the second-largest city after Constantinople. The Despotate of Epirus occupied the west coast of Greece. The Bulgarians occupied much of the rest of the Balkans. The Empire of Nicaea occupied Asia Minor outside the Latin territory. Theodore became ruler of the Despotate of Epirus in 1215 upon the death of his half-brother Michael Angelus. (There is a different Theodore, Theodore I Lascaris, who was Emperor of Nicaea.) He was a relative of three of the most prominent Byzantine families, which explains all those names. In 1224 Theodore reconquered Thessalonica from the Latins and founded "The Empire of Thessalonica". In 1230 he invaded Bulgarian territory and lost his army and was captured by Ivan (a.k.a. John) II Asen, the Bulgarian Tsar. Initially treated well, he was blinded after plotting against Ivan. Amazingly, that was not the end of his political involvement. After many more complicated events, Ivan's first wife died during an epidemic (throughout history epidemics have killed many people) and Theodore managed to persuade Ivan to take his, Theodore's, daughter, Irene (who then was renamed Anna) as his new wife. As father-in-law of the Tsar, he was released, went back to Thessalonica in disguise, and deposed his brother, Manuel Comnenus-Ducas, in 1237 and installed his son, John Comnenus-Ducas, who was "emperor" only until 1242 and then was obliged to accept the lessor title of "despot" and acknowledge John III Comnenus-Dukas, emperor of Nicaea, as overload. John III of Nicaea took full control in 1246. (This is only one of many sequences of events where history is truly "Byzantine.") Show us a coin from one of the Byzantine regions during the time when the Latins held Constantinople.
Common theme here Theodore I Mint: Nicaea Billon trachy 1208 to 1212 AD Obvs: The Virgin enthroned holding nimbate head of Christ. Revs: Theodore and Saint Theodore holding patriarchal cross between them. 20x25mm, 2.8g Ref: cf. DO 4.460.5a, Sear -- Note: Theodore wears unlisted tunic. Theodore I Mint: Nicaea Billon trachy 1208 AD Obvs: Christ enthroned holding Gospels. No asterisk Revs: Theodore holding scepter cruciger and akakia. ωc left, k right. 20x32mm, 3.3g Ref: DO 4 Type b, Sear --
John III of Nicaea brought the "Empire of Thessalonica" to an end in 1246. Here is one of his coins: John III, Ducas, called Vatatzes. 1222-1254. 29-27 mm. 3.06 grams. Struck at Magnesia 3/4 length figure of archangel Michael John and Christ Sear 2089. DO plate XXXII 35
John Comnenus -Ducas (1237-1244) Half tetarteron Thessalonica. This coin has been found as a trachy but this one is clearly at tetarteron.
Incredible detail for a trachy. Here is a later one from the same Theodore Komnenos-Doukas S. 2168 1229-1230:
John III, 1221-1254, "was responsible for the extension of Nicaean power into the Balkans and the eventual suppression of the only serious Byzantine rival to Nicaea, the so-called empire of Thessalonica." [Grierson, DOC 4.2, page 467f.] John III, emperor of Nicaea, 1221-1254 28-27 mm. 2.97 grams. Full-length figure of Christ IC XC [XAΛ]KI/TH/C Full-length figure of emperor OΔɣK [AC] down right Sear 2096 DOC 4.2 John III, mint of Magnesia, 42, Type H, page 402 and plate XXXIII Hendy plate 33.9 Lianta, Ashmolean 237-239 This example has bold lettering "KI/TH/C" down the right on the obverse and some legible lettering on the reverse. For late Roman coins full and legible lettering is the norm, but for Byzantine coins of this period that much good lettering is remarkable.
John Komnenos-Doukas from that period between him being Emperor at Thessalonica and Despot of Thessalonica in 1242. This is unlisted in DOC Series III, unlisted in Sear, possibly CLBC 14.4.4(?), similar to NAC 75, lot 886; NAC 64, lot 2838; NAC 56, lot 830, CNG E-405, lot 632 etc. You think Western deniers are small, thin and light, but this trachy is AE15x11mm 0.71g:
I need to reshoot it but you get the gist. Theodore Ducas AE Tetarteron SBCV-2170 DOC IV 11 Var. B CLBC OBV- Inscription in 5 lines REV- Half length figure of emperor on l. and st Demetrius beardless and nimbate. Between them a patriarchal cross-crosslet, on a long shaft decorated with crescent and pellet, the base of the shaft ending in three steps. Size 23.4mm Weight 4.8gm Doc lists 7 examples with weights from 2.63gm to 5.50gm and sized at 23mm with one variation at 17mm
That's a stellar trachy, Warren. Coincidentally (or not?) my trachy of his son John is also squashed: I'm better endowed with Nicaean coins: Theodore I Comnenus-Lascaris (Nicaea, 1208-1222) John III Doukas Vatatzes (Nicaea, 1222-1254), tetarteron Theodore II Doukas-Lascaris (1254-1258) Plus an anonymous tetarteron with the Palaeologan monogram:
I know if the reader collects Greek silver he or she might regard my next comment as wrong, but, anyway, "Those are really nice examples" (for type). You just have to get into the flow of things and recognize that Byzantine AE is interesting and attractive, even it it is far from traditional numismatic standards of beauty.
Thanks, Warren! I think once you've looked carefully at enough coins in a particular category, you can't help but come to recognize superior examples. They jump out at you. And that jumping out is a "wow" kind of experience, as in "Wow, that's a nice one!" Bingo, you've come to see some coins in that category as attractive. And if you're a specialist, then those coins will be the most beautiful of all! To you, that is.
The nearest I have from Thessalonica was struck under Byzantine Emperor Alexius I Comnenus in early 12th century. Note that the Cross on obverse was the last Byzantine one. SB 1911.
I just realized it’s you Simon . This is my example that I bought by mistake . I made a bid on the wrong lot . So I put it for sale, but for real, I don’t wanna let it go
This is a coin that really does not come to market often. I would not worry about you having multiple examples. It will sell when some one is looking and cannot find it.
