I wanted to share the wonderful Secret Saturnalia gift coin I received as a way to thank the giver, who has chosen to remain anonymous. Here it is: My Secret Saturnalia (SS) also sent a very thoughtful letter explaining his or her rationale for choosing this particular coin. I won't quote the entire letter, but my SS took the time to research my collecting area (Severan and third century) by looking at my CT posts. With nothing to fit my collection, my SS decided to go with something completely different: "I am a new collector and this is the first time I have participated in this event. Here's hoping you will find the [coin] interesting ... I left out the attribution so you can do a bit of research yourself (here's hoping you are like me and enjoy that aspect of the hobby)." Although I am not a new collector, this is also the first time that I've participated in the CT SS event, so my SS and I have something in common! I had thought I might have time to research the coin before posting, but at the same time I wanted to post before the end of the year. So I haven't had a chance to to look into it yet, but I did have time to photograph it, and I do recognize it as Byzantine. I'm really thrilled with it, for the very reason that it is outside of my collecting area. The problem I have, which seems to be common among collectors, is that everything is interesting, but we have to choose a relatively narrow focus because, from the standpoint of limited time and resources, we can't have everything. So Byzantines and also medieval such as early English coinage are areas I'd like to know more about, but just haven't had the time to learn or the resources to collect. I also think that having a few coins well outside of one's typical area of focus provides some welcome context and points of comparison and contrast with that area of focus. I don't want to completely spoil the fun and challenge of researching and attributing this coin, but I wouldn't mind a nudge in the right direction. So if any of the members here can suggest a reference, either a book or a website, as a good place to start, I would appreciate that. At some point later I can follow up this post with my attribution. And in conclusion I want to express great thanks to my Secret Saturnalia, and wish him or her a happy and prosperous New Year!
I finally had some time to try to attribute this. Here's what I've got, thanks to great information provided by @Valentinian on his website : Michael IV, the Paphlagonian; 1034–41 CE (in Grierson’s DOC, dated 1042(?)–50, Constantine IX, 1042–55). Æ, anonymous follis Class C, Constantinople mint. 31mm, 8.49g, 6h. Class C. DO C .1-38, SBCV 1825. Obv: + EMMA–NOVHΛ; three-quarter length figure of Christ standing facing, wearing nimbus cruciger, pallium and colobium, raising right in benediction, Gospels in left, IC–XC in field. Rev: jeweled cross with pellet at each extremity, in the angles IC–XC / NI–KA (May Jesus Christ Conquer). Overstruck on Class B. The cross on the reverse of Class B is rotated on the reverse of this coin, with the crossbar and top line of the legend near the edge of the flan at two o’clock, and a step visible at eight o’clock.
Thanks! I'm really excited about it. My first Byzantine, a thoughtful gift from my Secret Saturnalia person, who has chosen to remain anonymous.
