Here is a Byzantine coin of an unusual denomination, 30. Most early Byzantine AE coins are 40 (M or XXXX), 20 (K or XX), 10 (I or X), 5 (Є or V) or 1. Tiberius II, 578-582 Larger than most at 34-32 mm and 12.46 grams. (These XXX pieces are struck on large flans, almost as if they used 40-nummi flans anyway and struck them with dies marked 30.) ∂M TIb CONS-TANT PP AVG XXXX, cross above CONΔ in exergue Sear 432. DO I Tiberius II 15. We may think of an empire as one thing. But the Byzantine Empire was large and the coinage system was not just one thing; it varied from place to place. Collect Byzantine coins for a while and you learn that the Alexandria, Thessalonica, and Cherson mints issued odd denominations, and this coin shows that occasionally Constantinople did, too. Show us a Byzantine coin with an unusual denomination!
I think the latest scholarship believes that they were minted to supply the price of admission to adult shows. Just kidding, that is a nice example. I find them interesting too. John
I’ve only a coupe Byzantine coins in the collection and honestly don’t know much about them. Interesting about the denominations and thanks for sharing that awesome 30!
Nice! I had bee eyeing one of those, but haven't managed to snag one yet. Byzantine bronze isn't an area I see myself getting serious about, but I have been entertaining the idea of picking either Anastasius or Justinian and building a denomination set for them. I got this one in a lot, which although I did sell for a decent price, I know I will regret parting with if I pursue such a set... a 2 nummi of Justinian with a large B on the reverse From the same lot and still in my collection is a nummus of Carthage - Large CN on the reverse (not *so* rare, but you don't often see nummi of any Byzantine emperor after Anastasius)
Hi All, Alexandrian 33 Nummi Justinian I (527-565 CE) Egypt, Alexandria Undated: 539 - 543 CE Size: 27mm Weight: 10.4 g Axis: 6:00 References: DO-273; Sear Byz-246. Obv: Justinian I, diademed, helmeted, and cuirassed facing bust, holding globus cruciger and shield decorated with horseman motif; cross to right. Legend: DNIVSTINI - ANVSPPAVG. Dotted border. Rev: Large ΛΓ with cross between. In exergue: AΛЄΞ. Dotted border. CNG eAuction 228, Lot#342. Greirson (1982): "Justinian's reform of 539 made a brief impression at Alexandria, for there exist rare coins of this mint with facing bust and mark of value lambda-gamma. They can probably be dated 539-43, like the heaviest series of folles elsewhere. Some scholars have interpreted lambda-gamma as meaning three litra, the litron being a unit occasionally referred to in papyri, but the more general view is that it is the numeral 33, i.e. 33 nummi, which though not an exact multiple of the dodecanummium was one-third of a hundred and in that way conveniently related to the solidus." - Broucheion
Their purpose is still not understood and the denomination is also a guess being 1/3 siliqua or scripulum and 1:288th of a Roman pound. Commemorating Constantinople 5th/6th c. AD Mint: Constantinople AR Scripulum Obvs: Helmeted, draped, and cuirassed bust of Constantinopolis right. Revs: Large K. 13x15mm, 1.07g Bendall 8c
