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<p>[QUOTE=&quot;dougsmit, post: 2918193, member: 19463&quot;]From the Robinson auction I added two Byzantine bronzes that are different in many ways.&nbsp; Byzantine bronzes are something of an acquired taste.&nbsp; Those who like their coins neat and tidy will prefer the gold.&nbsp; Copper tends to be ....... well, <i>Byzantine</i>. </p><p><br /></p><p>The first is a duplicate of a coin I have had for many years and both are shown in the image below.&nbsp;&nbsp; Both are Heraclius SB883 countermarked on an earlier Heraculius SB 809.&nbsp; The new one (top) weighs 11.7g while the old one (bottom) is 6.4g.&nbsp;&nbsp; The flan for the bottom coin was trimmed down to its present size.&nbsp; Note the three straight edges and one curve from the original coin. Most of Heraclius&#039; bronzes were restruck on something earlier but I can not identify the donor of this flan.&nbsp; The top coin was not trimmed so neatly.&nbsp; The edges are as sharp as a saw blade (it destroyed the envelope it came in).&nbsp; I wonder if I had it slabbed if it might set itself free??? <img src="styles/default/xenforo/clear.png" class="mceSmilieSprite mceSmilie7" alt=":p" unselectable="on" unselectable="on" /></p><p><br /></p><p>Both coins show the dual portraits of Heraclius and Heraclius Constantine countermarked on the reverse of a follis of Constantinople, officina Γ, from year XXI (some letters are weak but they are there).&nbsp; On the original obverse is a large SCL denoting the countermark was from the Sicilian mint.&nbsp; Have you ever bought a coin because it was sharp?&nbsp; I have.&nbsp; For the record, the new 2017 coin was $5 cheaper than the other was in 1992.&nbsp; When we say ancient coins are &#039;long term&#039; investments we mean &#039;loooong&#039;. </p><p>[ATTACH=full]706032[/ATTACH] </p><p><br /></p><p>My second new coin is celebrating its&nbsp; homecoming.&nbsp; It came in an envelope saying it was sold in 1979 by a dealer in the town where I live (no longer active).&nbsp; I do not know where it spent the last 38 years but it stayed with its envelope.&nbsp; </p><p><br /></p><p>The coin is the smallest Byzantine copper denomination of the later period.&nbsp; This half tetarteron has the monogram of Manuel I on one side and his facing bust on the other.&nbsp; As these go, this one is not bad.&nbsp; It is the lighter standard version weighing 1.47g and 17mm diameter (thin!). The flan has been clipped leaving eight sides.&nbsp; I suspect an earlier coin was hammered flat befor trimming but the metal could have been from any source since there is no sign of earlier use. </p><p>[ATTACH=full]706036[/ATTACH][/QUOTE]</p><p><br /></p>

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