I just bought this Byzantine coin, the problem is i do not know who is the ruler. Could you help? Thanks a lot!
thats a tough one...does that bust have a beard and its just worn...doesnt look to have a beard...the style is most likely around 1000-1100...if there is no beard it might be Theodora?
Neat coin Hkmal… I have a few of these coins but just like you I have no clue who the rulers were, and up until this tread, I had never wondered.
I say Theodora mainly because her coins come from this time period with a similar style and every other ruler from this time period would have a beard (as far as I have seen). I am not an expert on byzantine coins so I cant say that there werent rulers with no beards but from my experience, all I have seen save the very few ladies...have beards. There is little else to go by save style and the style tells me its 1000 to 1100 give or take.
I can't think of any emperor without a beard either. But St. Michael does appear without a beard, it looks like. I think I can see Christ enthroned on the other side, too. Whats the size?
The size of this billon Aspron Trachy is 25mm top to bottom (27mm left to right). I agree that it's 1000 - 1100 AD coin. I have check this website too http://www.forumancientcoins.com/catalog/roman-and-greek-coins.asp?vpar=1090&pos=1&iop=50 but there are no similar ruler as this coin...
I posted this on an ancients list I am a member of simply because I am curious as to who it could be (and if I am right). I got a response from a guy who is well versed in Byzantine coins and he believes it is Alexius I Comnenus 1081-1118 Constantinople mint. Now I have seen a lot of coins from this ruler and they all have beards. I did not ask him how he came up with Alexius but the reverse WOULD be Christ enthroned. So maybe there are trachy of Alexius without a beard that I am not aware of or maybe this bust has a beard but it is worn down and not apparent? I dont know.
Thanks a lot Drusus and Ardatirion. It's possible Alexius I Comnenus without beard. However, the ruler of my coin isn't worn down i can see by using x20 magnifier... The ruler is more looks like Theodora but different wear apparel... it's the example of Tetarteron nomisma: http://imagedb.coinarchives.com/img/nac/033/00681q00.jpg I'm quite new in ancient coins, still try to learn as much as possible, it's interesting.
I have asked him a follow up question regarding the coin...simply for my own curiosity. I have seen probably hundreds of coins from Alexius I and have yet to find one that has him depicted without a beard...on you coin...you can clearly see his chin and neck, these details would not be visible if he had a beard, even if it were very worn. So I asked him how he figured this was Alexius and what I wouldnt mind seeing is an example of one of that emperors coins sans beard...to me it apears more like a female...like Theodora or Maria Alania (pictured below) or other empress / wives. although garb is different from all the female rulers I have seen
