My First Physical Ancient Coin Book!

Thought I'd post a coin.

Justinian. Regnal year 8 (534-535 A.D.). This is a Folis.
Cyzicus mint (KYZ). Oficina B

 

Log in or Sign up to hide this ad.

Thanks, @tibor! Wish I had one half as good. --The one I did have was too good outlast one of the then-regularly-scheduled rent emergencies.

 

It was a self-appellation after the fall of Constantinople. See https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Moscow,_third_Rome

 

That's a beautiful book and a good starting reference for this fascinating series.

Here's my first reference, purchased during a visit to LA in the late 80's. I found it in a store specializing in remaindered books. I think I bought one more on Byzantine coins with it, but cannot find it (so what else is new?).

This book, or rather booklet, is essentially a price guide. This particular edition is for 1967. I do not recommend using the prices quoted herein as a good basis for submitting bids these days. The chances of winning outcomes, would, at best, be nil.

However, it did prove a good basis to becoming acquainted, at a very rudimentary level, with the vast and complex field of Byzantine numismatics.

Apparently this is a fairly scarce booklet, based on my Internet search.

 

The Byzantine book I use most is Bendall's book on scale weights.

I bought my Byz coin book from a friend at a coin club meeting.

I should have checked the book before I bought this coin.

 

...Nope, all I've got is Whitting, followed by Sear, as cited on the Wildwinds website. --Don't throw anything too ripe!!!

 

@furryfrog02 this is a nice book and I agree with @Valentinian that it is an easier read than Grierson's. But put those two books together and you have an unbeatable source on Byzantine coins at your disposal.

Now, would it be too much to ask to show us a glimpse of the article on Mount Athos I noticed on the cover of the magazine? I have been there and it is the last piece of the Byzantine empire still in existence. I actually did a write-up on it here:

https://www.cointalk.com/threads/the-byzantine-empire-still-exists-and-you-can-visit-it.357439/

 

Great thread, got me thinking....any other NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC magazines with articles/pics on U.S. or world coins over the years ?

 

@furryfrog02 build that library!

I just happened to coincidentally purchase three coins books today adding to my growing coin library. I picked them up for what I think was a great deal, $100 for all three.


I also couldn't resist purchasing another coin to add to my Byzantine collection,


Using my new found reference guide I believe it is Sear No. 1847.



Curious to know if I am correct.

 

Lemme get some pictures when I get home. I didn't read all of the magazine yet. Just flipped through it.

 

This was my first. It cost $75 new back in 1988!

 

Great pickup ff. Whitting is one of my favorites - I don't own it, but fortunately my local library has a copy, so I've checked it out a lot.

I did pick up a copy of the Roman Coins book from the same series, by C. H. V. Sutherland. It came in an eBay lot from last year - bottom row right - it is pretty good too, but not as good as Whitting's Byzantine Coins. I believe there is a Greek Coins as well, but I have not seen it:

:

 

Of course this image includes a book that is special to me. John Ryan's Papal book was a poor seller because it covered such a narrow span of time and came out about the same time as the Berman book that included earlier and later Papal coins. The intended two additional volumes never happened. John was a friend and I did the photos for the book as a favor to him despite the fact that I had no interest in medieval coins at that time. I made him stand by me as I shot to be certain that I was getting the right side 'up'. That was not always obvious to me at that time. This was the first time I had coin photos published in a hard back book.

The Carson Principle Coins of the Romans is from the three volume set finished by 'The Principate' and 'The Dominate' (separated at Diocletian). I enjoyed those books for years but am less than certain they are worth the current asking prices for the set. As usual, mine is a minority opinion since sets seem to sell easily when they come up.

 

My first coin book is here. Got it in 1980, or before you were born. Great book but it is out of print....



I also have a Michael the Amorian and Theophilus. Michael was an iconoclast, fyi.





The coin has a glossy black patina that was tough to photograph, plus this is one of my very first photos - my skills have improved since then...

 

It seems like virtually all of the books on ancient coins were written/published a few decades ago, mostly 1970's and 1980's.

Were the coins more popular back then ?

Have these books had 2nd or 3rd editions updated since ?

 

You can even find the original German version as PDF:
http://books.monetonos.ru/numi3mati... Spatromische Kupferpragung - Guido Bruck.pdf

 

Sticking with Byzantine, ERIC II (X2), here's my "everyday use copy" on the right, and on the left the signed copy that came with the cover coin (pictured in a little capsule) when I bought it at auction recently


(Also happens to be one of the coolest coin purchases I've made in a long time! Maybe ever?)