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<p>[QUOTE="David@PCC, post: 3083187, member: 80556"]This would have been better to post on Prince's birthday next month but why wait now that the coin is in hand. </p><p>Anyone that collects anonymous Byzantine Folles knows they come in categories or classes ranging from A to K, and the rare hardly seen L, M, N also. These classes were established by margret Thompson a century ago when excavating the Athenian agora which can be read about <a href="https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&source=web&rct=j&url=http://www.ascsa.edu.gr/pdf/uploads/oa_ebooks/oa_agora/Agora_II.pdf&ved=2ahUKEwjDgMnU1YrbAhXvtlkKHWe2CuYQFjAAegQIBhAB&usg=AOvVaw1yJEVQiNDn-nYr1HAf5mxw" target="_blank" class="externalLink ProxyLink" data-proxy-href="https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&source=web&rct=j&url=http://www.ascsa.edu.gr/pdf/uploads/oa_ebooks/oa_agora/Agora_II.pdf&ved=2ahUKEwjDgMnU1YrbAhXvtlkKHWe2CuYQFjAAegQIBhAB&usg=AOvVaw1yJEVQiNDn-nYr1HAf5mxw" rel="nofollow">here</a>. The classifications have evolved some since then as well. They are bronze coins that were minted over a period of two centuries and labeled anonymous due to the lack of inscription of under whose authority they were minted, or at least I presume. However they are now associated to various rulers during that period. It's actually kind of confusing and probably an outdated system, but it's what we have to work with. </p><p><br /></p><p>Every one of them has an image of Christ on the obverse, and most with the Greek inscription IC XC. It is derived from the first and last letters of ΙΗΣΟΥΣ ΧΡΙΣΤΟΣ (Jesus Christ), leaving ΙΣ ΧΣ. And depending on which version of sigma is used gives IC XC. If this is incorrect, a better explanation would be appreciated. It is often hard to make out the obverse image of Christ, so here is an image that is used on most of them including many other Byzantine coins. </p><p>[ATTACH=full]776728[/ATTACH] </p><p><br /></p><p>The other half of the anonymous issues have other forms of Christ ranging from full length, sitting, ect. </p><p>Now getting back to class N. As far as I know only 2 examples were know in the early 1970's when these were being studied for publication. At the time those 2 examples did not have readable obverse inscriptions, so they were added to a new anonymous class "N". Fast forward 20 years and more examples came to light, and those had a name on the obverse. His name was Nicephorus Basilacius. He was a rebel general who held the city of Thessalonica during the summer of 1078, revolting against the legitimate emperor Nicephorus III, Botaniates. He was defeated by Alexius Comnenus and blinded afterwards. </p><p>So until recently class N folles were truly anonymous, however they are still often referred to as 'class N'. Since he was not in control at the time, he used existing coins and overstruck them with his own design. </p><p><br /></p><p>I never expected to have one of these last 3 classes which Sear lists as 'extremely rare', but jumped on this one where the seller had just a vague description. Certainly only the underbidder and I knew what it was. </p><p>[ATTACH=full]776730[/ATTACH] </p><p>Nicephorus Basilacius</p><p>Thessalonica mint</p><p>Formally class N</p><p>Usurper, 1078</p><p>Obvs: Facing bust of Christ Pantokrator; barred IC XC across fields.</p><p>Revs: Patriarchal cross on base; barred IC XC / NI KA across fields.</p><p>Æ Follis, 26x29mm, 8.93g</p><p>Ref: DOC, p. 706, N.1; P. Grierson, "Nicephorus Bryennius or Nicephorus Basilacius?" NumCirc LXXXIV.1 (January 1976), type a; R. Bland, "A Follis of Nicephorus Basilacius?" NC 1992, pl. 36, B; SB 1903A.</p><p>Note: Over struck on class D, E, or F.</p><p><br /></p><p>I can make out 2 or 3 characters on the obverse, but am unsure if they belong to Basilacius or the undertype?</p><p><br /></p><p>Pile on your anonymous folles.[/QUOTE]</p><p><br /></p>
[QUOTE="David@PCC, post: 3083187, member: 80556"]This would have been better to post on Prince's birthday next month but why wait now that the coin is in hand. Anyone that collects anonymous Byzantine Folles knows they come in categories or classes ranging from A to K, and the rare hardly seen L, M, N also. These classes were established by margret Thompson a century ago when excavating the Athenian agora which can be read about [URL='https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&source=web&rct=j&url=http://www.ascsa.edu.gr/pdf/uploads/oa_ebooks/oa_agora/Agora_II.pdf&ved=2ahUKEwjDgMnU1YrbAhXvtlkKHWe2CuYQFjAAegQIBhAB&usg=AOvVaw1yJEVQiNDn-nYr1HAf5mxw']here[/URL]. The classifications have evolved some since then as well. They are bronze coins that were minted over a period of two centuries and labeled anonymous due to the lack of inscription of under whose authority they were minted, or at least I presume. However they are now associated to various rulers during that period. It's actually kind of confusing and probably an outdated system, but it's what we have to work with. Every one of them has an image of Christ on the obverse, and most with the Greek inscription IC XC. It is derived from the first and last letters of ΙΗΣΟΥΣ ΧΡΙΣΤΟΣ (Jesus Christ), leaving ΙΣ ΧΣ. And depending on which version of sigma is used gives IC XC. If this is incorrect, a better explanation would be appreciated. It is often hard to make out the obverse image of Christ, so here is an image that is used on most of them including many other Byzantine coins. [ATTACH=full]776728[/ATTACH] The other half of the anonymous issues have other forms of Christ ranging from full length, sitting, ect. Now getting back to class N. As far as I know only 2 examples were know in the early 1970's when these were being studied for publication. At the time those 2 examples did not have readable obverse inscriptions, so they were added to a new anonymous class "N". Fast forward 20 years and more examples came to light, and those had a name on the obverse. His name was Nicephorus Basilacius. He was a rebel general who held the city of Thessalonica during the summer of 1078, revolting against the legitimate emperor Nicephorus III, Botaniates. He was defeated by Alexius Comnenus and blinded afterwards. So until recently class N folles were truly anonymous, however they are still often referred to as 'class N'. Since he was not in control at the time, he used existing coins and overstruck them with his own design. I never expected to have one of these last 3 classes which Sear lists as 'extremely rare', but jumped on this one where the seller had just a vague description. Certainly only the underbidder and I knew what it was. [ATTACH=full]776730[/ATTACH] Nicephorus Basilacius Thessalonica mint Formally class N Usurper, 1078 Obvs: Facing bust of Christ Pantokrator; barred IC XC across fields. Revs: Patriarchal cross on base; barred IC XC / NI KA across fields. Æ Follis, 26x29mm, 8.93g Ref: DOC, p. 706, N.1; P. Grierson, "Nicephorus Bryennius or Nicephorus Basilacius?" NumCirc LXXXIV.1 (January 1976), type a; R. Bland, "A Follis of Nicephorus Basilacius?" NC 1992, pl. 36, B; SB 1903A. Note: Over struck on class D, E, or F. I can make out 2 or 3 characters on the obverse, but am unsure if they belong to Basilacius or the undertype? Pile on your anonymous folles.[/QUOTE]
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The coin formally known as class N
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