Hallluuu....... I have already shown a tremissis of Justinian before, but now I will present a tremissis of Zeno. Tremissis of Zeno tend to be sold for around 180-220 Euro frequently. And in large quantity. Zeno (474-491), Tremissis 1,46 gram and 14 mm. RIC 923 var. (rev. legend) (OBS: Not 100% sure if correct attributed): Justinian (527-565), Tremissis 1,47 gram and 17 mm. Sear 145: Here private photos, note the different size but same weight. Justinian’s has a wide flan: - Here other tremissis of Zeno and Justinian of the same type just to compare, but they are not mine: Zeno: Justinian:
Very nice coins. I am finding that I am looking for more Byzantine gold. I do not, however, have any tremisses. I do find them interesting and I really like your examples. Here are a few of my gold coins. Anastasius I (491-518), Semissis, Constantinople, c. 507-518, (17.90 mm. 2.00g,) Obv: Diademed, draped and cuirassed bust right Anastasius PP AVG Rev: Victory seated right, inscribing shield set on knee; star to left, staurogram to lower right; Victoria AVGG. CONOB in Exergue CONOB. MIBE 10; DOC 9; S. 7. Very fine. London Coin Galleries, Auction 4 - Part 1Lot 1144 June 1, 2017 JUSTINIAN I (527-565). Struck 527-538 GOLD Solidus. (21.74 mm, 4.45 g) Constantinople. Obv: D N IVSTINIANVS P P AVG. Helmeted, draped and cuirassed bust facing, holding globus cruciger and shield. Rev: VICTORIA AVGGG Θ / CONOB. Angel standing facing, holding long staff surmounted by cross and globus cruciger; star to right. Sear 139. Condition: Very fine. Ex: Numismatik-Nauman auction 48, Lot 693 November 20, 2016. MAURICE,GOLDSolidus, AD 582-602 (21.16 mm 4.55 g) Obv: Facg bust, DN MAURC TIB PP AUG Rev: Angel stg, VICTORIA AVGGB; EF, not badly struck with only minor crudeness, sharp portrait details. Sb 478, Frank Robinson Auctions August 15 2017 Lot 443 Heraclius (AD 610-641) & Heraclius Constantine (AD 613-641). AV solidus (14.27 mm 4.46 gm). XF. Carthage, Indictional Year 9, 1st cycle (AD 620/1). OBV: D N ЄRACLIO ЄT ЄRACOS P P Θ, facing busts of Heraclius, with short beard (on left) and Heraclius Constantine, smaller and beardless (on right), each wearing chlamys and crown, cross in field above Rev: VICTORI-A AVGG Θ, cross potent on three steps; CONOB in exergue. Sear 867. Ex: Heritage Auctions September 14, 2017 Theophilus (AD 829-842), with Constantine and Michael II. AV solidus (20.07 mm, 4.38 g) Constantinople, Obv: *ΘЄOFI-LOS bASILЄ Θ, Rev: MIXAHL S COhSTAhTIN', Sear 1653. Berk 249. DO 3. Ex: Harlen J Berk Purchased November 28, 2016.
Great little coins! That one with the wide flan is really neat looking. What I like about tremissis pieces is that they're often relatively affordable. This one was my only piece of ancient gold until recently (still is, if you don't count electrum): Ancient Byzantine Empire: gold tremissis of Justinian I, ca. 527-565 AD Obverse: D N IVSTINIANVS P P AVI, pearl diademed, draped, cuirassed bust right. Reverse: VICTORIA AVGVSTORVM, Victory standing right, head left, holding wreath and cross on globe, star to right, mintmark CONOB. NGC Mint State (Strike 5/5, Surface 4/5, "wrinkled"), cert #4170211-001. Ex-Classical Numismatic Group eAuction 294, Lot 820, 1/16/2013. Purchased raw. Quoting the original CNG auction description: "Justinian I. 527-565. AV Tremissis (15mm, 1.50 g, 7h). Constantinople mint. Pearl-diademed, draped, and cuirassed bust right / Victory advancing right, head left, holding wreath and globus cruciger; star to right; CONOB. DOC 19; MIBE 19; SB 145. Good VF, slightly wavy flan, small edge split."
As to Zeno, I did once have a solidus, holed in antiquity, which was the centerpiece of my trademark "Holey Gold Hat". Zeno (emperor of the East, A.D. 476-491). AV Solidus. Thessalonica, A.D. 476 or later. Pedigreed to the famous Louis E. Eliasberg Collection. RIC 941. Metcalf 223. Choice VF. 4.27 grams, 20.40 mm. Obv Helmeted, cuirassed bust three-quarters facing of Zeno, holding spear and decorated shield. Rev Victory standing l., holding long cross, two stars in field. A scarcer issue. Scratched in right obverse field and holed, otherwise Choice VF.
I thought I had won a Zeno tremissis a while back, but it turned out my bid didn't actually get through. In fact, it was the first one on your "not mine" list. I recently settled for a Cherson bronze instead. But I do have a Justinian II tremissis:
Terrific posts guys!! Since this is still outside my collecting focus, I have but one to share---a modest tremissis of Heraclius:
Always nice to see late Roman coins. Here are a few of my tremisses and a semissis. In order of pictures, Pulcheria, Leo, Leo II & Zeno, Zeno, Basiliscus, a semissis of Basiliscus & Marcus, Justinian II, and a Rome tremissis of Leo III & Constantine V.
The Basiliscus and Marcus is the rarest. It was acquired in the 1950s and I have not seen another offered since.
I'm glad I'm not the only one to create multiple posts! You've got some wonderful coins, too. Your "Eclectic Box" collection is superb. The dealer from whom the Basiliscus and Marcus was acquired, Ed Gans, had a policy, I recall, concerning his own coin collection. He limited himself to 100 coins. If ever he was tempted to add another coin to his collection, he made himself remove a "lesser" coin to make way for the new one.
Thanks! I did this with 20 coins ("Box of 20") for the first few years. My discipline has since slipped... a little. It's a box of 20 minimum now. Presently around 25 pieces. Of course I have poverty to help keep the collection small, too.
The other gold denominations are difficult enough, but that is an amazing coin. Very attractive, too!
Actually, there is a little wear on the cheek as well as a small scratch to the right of the emperor's nose, but still, it's an attractive coin, if you like late Roman / Byzantine, as I do.
