I just won this semissis a few minutes ago an I could not wait to post it. It appears to be quite a scarce coin. I found the following examples: Acsearch: 5 Coin Archives: 0 CNG: 2 I know it has issues, but if I wanted a semissis of Marcian I would have settle for what appeared on the market.This one did so I grabbed it. I can hardly wait to add this coin to my growing collection of gold coins. Please post your gold coins, coins of Marcian, or anything you feel is relevant. It has been a very good 2 days. First I added a piece of French gold last night, and now I have added to my ancient gold. I really like that the legends are readable on this coin. From wikipedia: Marcian's rule marked a recovery of the Eastern Empire, which the Emperor protected from external menaces and reformed economically and financially. On the other side, the isolationistic policies of Marcian left the Western Roman Empire without help against barbarian attacks, which materialized in the Italian campaigns of Attila and in the Vandal sack of Rome (455). He convoked the Council of Chalcedon, held in 451. Rule[edit] Upon becoming Emperor, Marcian repudiated the embarrassing payments of tribute to Attila the Hun (434–453), which the latter had been accustomed to receiving from Theodosius II in order to refrain from attacks on the Eastern Empire. He cancelled the subsidies, stating, I have iron for Attila, but no gold. Aware that he could never capture the eastern capital of Constantinople, Attila turned to the west and waged his famous campaigns in Gaul 451 and Italy (452) while leaving Marcian's dominions alone. Marcian reformed the finances, checked extravagance, and repopulated the devastated districts. He repelled attacks upon Syria and Egypt in 452, and quelled disturbances on the Armenianfrontier in 456. The other notable event of his reign is the Council of Chalcedon in 451, in which Marcian endeavored to mediate between the rival schools of theology. Marcian generally ignored the affairs of the Western Roman Empire, leaving that tottering half of the empire to its fate. He did nothing to aid the west during Attila's campaigns, and, living up to his promise, ignored the depredations of Geiseric even when the Vandals sacked Rome in 455. It has recently been argued, however, that Marcian was more actively involved in aiding the Western Empire than historians had previously believed and that Marcian's fingerprints can be discerned in the events leading up to, and including, Attila's death.[11] Shortly before Attila's death in 453, conflict had begun again between him and Marcian. However, the powerful Hun king died before all-out war broke out. In a dream, Marcian claimed he saw Attila's bow broken before him, and a few days later, he got word that his great enemy was dead. Marcian died on 27 January 457[1] of a disease, possibly gangrene, contracted during a long religious journey. He was buried in the church of the Holy Apostles in Constantinople, together with Pulcheria.[6] Despite his short reign and his writing off of the west Marcian is considered one of the best of the early Eastern Roman Emperors." Marcian (450-457). AV Semissis (17mm, 1.98g, 6h). Constantinople. Pearl-diademed, draped and cuirassed bust r. R/ Victory seated r. on cuirass, holding shield inscribed XVXXX; star in l. field, Christogram in r.; CONOB. RIC X 514 (R2) Wavy flan, otherwise near VF
Coins of Marcian in any metal may not be rare but nice examples certainly are. Faults and all, I'd call this a keeper. All I have are AE4's which are hard enough to find fully detailed. This has a tiny trace on the CON mintmark.
Way cool @Orfew ! Nice gold example... you are starting to rack them up! I have one of those not-nice examples: RI Marcian 450-457 CE AE4 11mm monogram
Congrats, a Marcian semissis is not easy to come by! I saw that one in the auction but decided I should stick to my humble AE4. (Speaking of which, @dougsmit, your example with full legends is fantastic.) My Marcian AE4 with a real Neanderthal portrait: and my only semissis, of Basiliscus:
I agree! Keep it up I have been doing the same thing, now for 20 years! I have never been depressed since then.....life is great! Here is one of my Marcianus examples...a more common solidus. AV Solidus ND Constantinople Mint/ 7th officina 21mm./ 4.48g. obv. DN MARCIA NVS PF AVG rev. VICTORI A AVGGG
Yeah Mikey/ but your coin is probably rarer then the gold ones/ there are tons of mint state AV examples/ not many in AE/AR.
Great coin @Orfew and a nice score. I've got one crappy Marcian that was a pain to attribute because the obverse is almost completely worn off.
Here is my Marcian, following the usual poor quality ! MARCIANVS. Diademed head r. “DN MARCIANVS PF AVG” Rev.:Marcianus’ Monogram. in exerg. “CON”.450 - 457 AD AE4 (copper, 1 0mm, 1.72 grams) Ref.: RIC.564, S4327.
