This coin appears to match up with a Justin II & Sophia half-follis, but I wanted confirmation since I'm no good with Byzantines. Obverse: Two seated figures facing front. --ANTP-AV Reverse: large K. ANNO - V(?). Cross above, TES mintmark. Diam: 20x17mm Weight: 2.9g
I have one that I still haven't completely attributed. All I can get is Byzantine 1/2 Follis. ANNO TES.
Yep, looks like it to me too, @hotwheelsearl Here is a similar example of mine from Thessalonica... Justin II & Sophia, Ruled 565-578 AD AE Half Follis, Thessalonica Mint Struck 571/572 AD Obverse: DN IVSTI-NVS PP AVG, Justin (left), holding globus cruciger, and Sophia (right), holding cruciform scepter, seated facing on double throne. Reverse: Large K, A/N/N/O to left, cross above, regnal year IG to right (RY 7), mintmark TES in exergue. References: DOC 44-52; Sear 361 Size: 28.6mm 12.77g
Oh, whoops here is my Justinian II and Sophia Half Follis: Looks like a lot of us have Half Folle from Thessalonica
Thanks for the replies! These are pretty neat and decent size. I already have my hands full with Roman but one of these days I might take the leap to Byz...
I have come to really love Byzantine coins and all their large, heavy, oddly shaped, overstruck and poorly engraved portraits. It doesn't hurt that the prices are pretty good too, compared to other coins
I really like the Justin II & Sophia coins especially the large folles. Like @furryfrog02, these big byzantine are very satisfying to collect! Justin II & Sophia, Ruled 565-578 AD AE Follis, Cyzicus Mint, 1st officina Struck 574/575 AD Obverse: D N I-VSTI-NVS P P AV, Justin (left), holding globus cruciger, and Sophia (right), holding cruciform scepter, seated facing on double throne; cross above. Reverse: Large M, A/N/N/O to left, cross above, regnal year X to right (RY 10), officina letter A below, mintmark KYZ in exergue. References: Sear 372, DOC 123a Size: 27mm, 10.73g Justin II & Sophia, Ruled 565-578 AD AE Follis, Constantinople Mint, 3rd officina, 565/566 AD Obverse: D N IVSTI - NVS P P AV, Justin left and Sophia right, seated facing on double-throne, both nimbate, Justin holding cross on globe, Sophia holding scepter topped by cross. Reverse: Large M, A-N-N-O to left, cross above, regnal year II to right (RY 2), officina letter Γ below, mintmark CON in exergue. References: Sear 360 Size: 28mm, 15.19g Justin II & Sophia, Ruled 565-578 AD AE Follis, Nicomedia Mint, 1st officina Struck 573/574 AD Obverse: DN IVSTI-NVS PP AVG, Justin (left), holding globus cruciger, and Sophia (right), holding cruciform scepter, seated facing on double throne. Reverse: Large M, A/N/N/O to left, cross above, regnal year GI/II to right (RY 9), officina letter A below, mintmark NIKO in exergue. References: DOC 99a; Sear 369 Size: 28.6mm 12.77g
@Justin Lee those are some great examples! I've only got one follis and it is a bit ratty. To be fair, I only paid about $5 for it. It came with a Littleton Coin Co. "tag" so I can only imagine what the original buyer paid for it.
I'll join the party! Justin II and wife Sophia, AD 565-578. Byzantine Æ follis, 31.2 mm, 14.52 g, 12 h. Nicomedia, AD 570/71. Obv: DN IVSTINVS PP AVG, Justin, on left, holding globus cruciger and Sophia, on right, holding cruciform scepter. Rev: Large M, surmounted by cross; officina B below; ANNO at left; G (regnal year 6) at right; NIKO in exergue Refs: Sear Byz 369; Dumbarton Oaks 96a; MIBE 46b.
Nice coins. I was just lucky to get one. I only collect from uncleaned coin lots. Clean them and hope for something nice. I haven't been doing it long. But, I have about 100 fairly nice coins.
The year 10 Kyzicus follis, is most likely the product of a military mint, or other temporary issuer. The style is distinct. Here is a link to a newly published private Byzantine collection in England. The collector, author, and researcher wrote the book not only to codify his research and collection, but also to distribute it to other researchers and museum collections. The author is very generous with his book and the knowledge he is sharing with us. Now the good news. The entire collection is available online which can be downloaded and it's free...a very good price. https://www.byzantine-ae.info/. I guarantee that as you peruse it, you will go to your collection to see if you have any. Happy hunting, check it out.
Wow, what a resource! The more I think about it the more tempted I am to dive into Byzantine for real now...
Glad you went there, it certainly is a work of love. I went to a coin shop that I haunt yesterday and was lucky enough to pick up five nice folles. A very happy day as they were priced way too low. One never knows. I do indeed appreciate the book; if your just starting it really will give you a leg up. Just play with it and have fun. This is my hobby, I do it for fun. Cheers!
