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<p>[QUOTE=&quot;The Trachy Enjoyer, post: 7805709, member: 118358&quot;]Here is a very interesting coin I have come across. It is an AR trachy of Byzantine emperor John III Vatazes, seemingly unique. The coin features something I have never seen on the obverse of a Byzantine trachy....a sideways facing figure!!!</p><p>[ATTACH=full]1340650[/ATTACH] </p><p>[ATTACH=full]1340649[/ATTACH] </p><p>I stumbled across a CNG&#039;s Triton listing which features a coin very similar to my own. </p><p>[ATTACH=full]1340648[/ATTACH] </p><p>CNG labels the coin as: <b>Emperor of Nicaea, 1222-1254. AR Trachy (31mm, 2.40 g, 6h). Magnesia mint. The Virgin Mary, <i>orans</i>, standing facing; (MP) ΘV across upper field, cross of four pellets to either side / John standing facing, holding star-tipped scepter in right hand, globus surmounted by patriarchal cross in left. S. Bendall, “Some unpublished late Byzantine coins,” <i>NumCirc</i> (August 2002), no. 3 (this coin); otherwise unpublished.</b></p><p><b><br /></b></p><p>My example shares a very similar reverse to this coin. I can&#039;t tell if it is a die match but if not, the dies must have been carved by the same hand. The obverse is where things become very interesting. Bendall labeled his specimen as front facing...however, on his trachy this face area is weakly struck and no details survive. My example features a similar design but seems to show Mary&#039;s face to the right! This something that is (at least for me) unheard of for Byzantine trachys. I have never seen a sideways facing figure on a trachy either in hand, in books, online etc.</p><p><br /></p><p>Bendall&#039;s example weighs 2.40 grams and is 31mm wide. My coin is 2.49 grams and about 33mm on the longer side.</p><p><br /></p><p>Below Mary is the front section of a throne. She seems to be in a pose of supplication before the prepared throne of the second coming. This scene is reminiscent of hetoimasia icons where Mary prays before the empty throne of Christ (if this is indeed what is depicted). </p><p>[ATTACH=full]1340649[/ATTACH] </p><p>[ATTACH=full]1340661[/ATTACH] [ATTACH=full]1340658[/ATTACH]</p><p>To be honest, I am not quite sure what to make this of trachy. Its not in any reference books I have access to. The design isn&#039;t like anything I have seen before. Any help would be appreciated.[/QUOTE]</p><p><br /></p>

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