voulgaroktonou

Thank you!

Two new silvers have entered my collection! First, at our local monthly coin show from last week, I purchased an above average basilikon of Andronikos II and Michael IX. This is a very common coin – I have 5 or 6 of them, but the preservation of this one exceeds all my others. The obverse bears an enthroned figure of Christ, while on the reverse, Andronicus and his son Michael hold a labarum. Although there exist a number of sigla on the various issues, it is the reverse legend that forms the 2 main divisions of this type . The much more common one is anonymous, as this one. Instead of naming the rulers, the legend simply reads: AVTOKPATOPEC POMAIΩN: emperors of the Romans. The rarer variety specifically names the rulers: ΑΝΔΡΟΝΙΚΟ ΜΙΧΑΗΛ ΔЄC: Andronikos and Michael, despot. The DO catalog lists 4 of the named coins and 28 of the anonymous types. Andronicus II Palaeologus and Michael IX , 1294-1320 Constantinople, 1304-1320 or later AR Basilikon, Class VIII, 2.10 gr. 23.2 mm. 5 hr. Obv: KYPIE BOHΘEI (Lord, help). Christ enthroned facing, nimbate, raising right hand, holding book of Gospels in left; IC - XC across upper fields. Star on each side of throne. Rev: AVTOKPATO - PEC POMAIΩN [N is retrograde]. Andronicus (bearded) and Michael (beardless? Or perhaps bearing the start of whiskers) standing facing, each raising hand to chest and holding labarum on base, with O beneath the plaque. References: Sear 2402; DO 535-538 (stars as DO 536); LPC 88, 35; PCPC 167.3; Ashmolean 773 The second coin, a miliaresion of Theophilos and his son Michael III arrived a few days later. Typically aniconic as is the denomination in this period, in my view its beauty consists of the elegance of the letter forms of the 5 line obverse inscription and on the reverse, that framing the cross on steps. Theophilos , 829-842, with Michael III Constantinople, 840-842 AR Miliaresion, Class V, 2.21 gr. 24.7 mm. 12 hr. Obv: +ΘЄO / FILOS S MI / XAHL ЄC ΘЄ’ / bASILIS RO / MAIOh (Theophilos and Michael, in God, emperors of the Romans), in five lines within triple border. Rev: IhSЧS XRIS - TЧS hICA (Jesus Christ conquers). Cross potent on three steps within triple border. References: Sear 1664; DO 12; BNP 7-9; BM 14; T. 39; R. 1839

Must not let my wife know I’m about to submit a post with the theme “Something Attractive!” to a Byzantine coin forum or she will laugh me out of the house. But I’ve cinched up my loros, gathered up my courage, and here goes! But shreds of self esteem prevent my sharing what I find MOST attractive: the stavrata of John V to the end of the dynasty. So instead, my offering is an aniconic miliaresion of Michael II (820-829). Leo III (717-741) introduced this denomination, which fit well into the Iconoclastic movement he promoted. This broad, thin silver coin was unlike any previous issues from the imperial mint. Its fabric and types, rejecting any portraiture, religious or secular, are derived from the Arabic dirhem, which are sometimes found overstruck by miliaresia. Replacing the portrait of the ruler on the obverse are his name and titles, with a cross on steps and inscription on the reverse. While the first issues of the denomination under Leo III and his immediate successors tend to be clumsy in execution and style, by the 9th c., the lettering of the inscriptions, in Greek, but with a mixture of Greek and Roman letters, is long, refined, and elegant, as this example illustrates. Mint is Constantinople. 2.25 gr. 24 mm. 12 hr. Sear 1641; DO 6; BNP 1-3; BM 5; T. 21; R. 1811. Michael is named along with his son Theophilos, now raised to the throne with his father. Obv: + MIXA / HL S ΘЄOFI / LЄ ЄC ΘЄЧ / ЬASILIS RO / MAIOҺ. Legend in five lines. Triple border of dots. The Greek is: ΜΙΧΑΗΛ ΚΑΙ ΘΕΟΦΙΛΕ ΕΚ ΘΕΟΥ ΒΑΣΙΛΕΙΣ ΡΟΜΑΙΩΝ. The names are in the vocative case, indicating an acclamation is understood, along the lines of: “Oh, Michael and Theophilos, by grace of God, emperors of the Romans [may you conquer!] Rev: IҺSЧS XRIS - TЧS ҺICA. Cross potent set on three steps. Triple border of dots. ΙΗΣΟΥΣ ΧΡΙΣΤΟΣ ΝΙΚΑ: Jesus Christ conquers.

A beautiful class I @Valentinian! This class is dated by often being overstruck on signed folles of Michael VII. Here’s one of mine showing on the reverse the remnants of the legend of the Michael VII host coin. Sear 1889; DO I. 1-64; BNP 152-90; R. 2493-2496. Ex Hunt Coll. Sotheby's 6/21/91, lot 228 (part). 9.31 gr. 27 mm. 6 hr. Michael’s inscription is visible from around 7-10 hr. on the reverse: [MIX]AHΛ RACIΛ O Δ

Yes, that the figure is a secular, not heavenly, personage would suggest it's not meant as a religious token. I wonder if perhaps a coin weight? I have several Byzantine trimmed coins that might fall into that category. Too late tonight for anything more than reading and snuggling with a dog or two, but will snoop around in my boxes and see what's there perhaps tomorrow...

The switch from profile to frontal portraits on the AES took place with the introduction of the dated issues beginning regnal year 12 (538/9). But it was not across the board for the various denominations, with the fractions from several of the mints continuing to depict Justinian in profile following year 12.

No, that ended following Theophilos.

Some years ago I picked up a curious object, a follis of Leo VI and Alexander that had been carefully cut down in antiquity so that only the figure of Leo remained. The care with which the original coin was trimmed suggests that it was not done to create smaller change from a follis. Although we may never know for certain, I will call it an amulet. That ‘s as good a guess as I can hazard, so an amulet it shall remain! 😊 Here it is next to a follis of its type. Follis, Class 2. Constantinople, 886-912. 7.14 gr. 27 mm. 6 hr. Sear 1730; DO 6; BNP 4-13; BM 11-12; R. 1875. Obv: + LЄOҺ - S ALЄΞAҺGROS = “Leo and Alexander” Crowned figures of Leo and Alexander enthroned facing, each wearing loros, holding labarum between them; Alexander also holding akakia. Rev: In 4 lines: + LЄOҺ/S ALЄΞAҺ/ GROS ЬASIL'/ ROMЄOҺ = “Leo and Alexander, emperors of the Romans”. The “amulet”. 1.95 gr. 21.7 mm. 6 hr. Obv: Virtually no trace of legend, save for the bottom of the tachygraphic sign “S” = “and” just to the right of the cross on Leo’s crown. Leo’s seated figure. Rev: Partial 4 line legend: + LЄ / ALЄ/ ROS Ь/ ROM And here it is, laid over the follis.

'Bout time for a phone call, don't you think? 🙂

Multos annos @Severus Alexander! I am glad you are feeling better! mb.

Justinian II, (685–95 and 705–11) was the last ruler of the Heraclian dynasty and is one of the few Byzantine emperors who returned to the throne after having been deposed and mutilated. Succeeding his father Constantine IV, he ruled for 10 years, but the unpopularity of his severe taxation and the cruelty and excesses of his financial administrator Stephen the Persian caused Leontios, the strategos of Hellas, to overthrow him, cut off his nose, and exile him to Cherson in 695. Stuck in this outpost, Justinian tested various nasal prosthetics, dripped snot, fumed, and bided his time, marrying the sister of the Bulgar kahn, Tervel, and cultivating his new in-law against his eventual return to power. Meanwhile, the usurper Leontius was in turn overthrown in 698 by Tiberios III Apsimar, who mutilated his nose and imprisoned him in the Dalmatou monastery. In 705, aided by Tervel, Justinian regained the throne and executed Tiberios and Leontios . Here are several of my favorite coins of Justinian II. From his first reign, a silver hexagram: Constantinople, 692-695. 6.43 gr. 24.5 mm. 6 hr. Sear 1259; Hahn 40; DO 17; BNP 2; BM 26-27; Obv: IҺS CRISTOS RЄX - RЄ[GNANTIЧM] = “Jesus Christ, King of those who rule”. Facing bust of Christ Pantokrator, cross behind. His right hand is raised and in His left, He holds Gospels. Rev: D IЧSTINI[ANЧS SЄRЧ CҺRISTI] = “Lord Justinian, slave of Christ”. Justinian standing facing, wearing crown and loros, holding akakia and cross potent set upon three steps. Beneath CONOP. A major numismatic innovation of Justinian’s reign was the introduction of a portrait of Christ as the major type on the obverse of the coin, with the corresponding figure of the emperor being moved to the reverse. This innovation affected the gold and silver only; the imperial portrait continued to grace the obverse of the bronze coinage. Although a standing figure of Christ had appeared on the reverses of several rare 5th c. solidi commemorating imperial marriages, this novel iconography (though abandoned by his immediate successors as well as by the subsequent rulers of the Iconoclastic period) was reinstated under Michael III in 843. Thereafter, to the fall of the empire, the obverse was given to Christ or another religious figure, with the emperor permanently relegated to the reverse. The Christ portrait of the first reign, the familiar image of a long haired and bearded Christ Pantokrator, hearkens back to Phidias’ colossal representation of Zeus at Olympia, as well as to the image of Christ in the Great Palace of Constantinople. Justinian’s resumption of power and his second reign from 705-11 introduced a new image of Christ on the precious metal coinage. The second image, with short, curly hair and beard is associated by art historians as Syrian, and is thought to be an attempt to represent the Savior in a more human-like manner, without the classical associations of the majestic Pantokrator image of the first reign. This is not the place to delve into the possible reasons for this unprecedented innovation, but those wishing to explore the subject in depth should consult James Douglas Breckenridge’s 1959 monograph, The numismatic iconography of Justinian II (685-695, 705-711 A.D.) New York, American Numismatic Society, Numismatic notes and monographs, no. 144. Two from the second reign. Silver hexagram: Constantinople, 705. 3.43 gr. 22.2 mm. 7 hr. Sear 1423; Hahn 39; DO [8] = BM (First reign) 28 = Tolstoi 76. Obv: δ N IҺS CҺS RЄ - X RЄGNANTIЧM = “Our lord, Jesus Christ, King of those who rule”. Facing bust of Christ Pantokrator, cross behind. His right hand is raised and in His left, holds Gospels. Rev: δ N IЧST – [INIAN]ЧS MЧLTЧS AN. = “Our lord, Justinian, [may you reign] many years”. Crowned, facing bust of Justinian, wearing loros and holding cross potent set upon three steps and globus cruciger with patriarchal cross inscribed PAX. Sadly, holed, but so is the BM specimen, which is the only one cited by Hahn in MIB III. Struck with solidus dies. Follis, Constantinople, 705/6. 4.18 gr. 22.6 mm. 6 hr. Sear 1428; Hahn 43, 2 (this coin); DO 12a; T. 13. Ex Protonotarios collection. Obv: DN IЧSTINIANЧS ЄT TIЬЄRIЧS P = “Our lords, Justinian and Tiberius, eternal [Augusti]. Crowned and draped busts of Justinian and Tiberius facing, holding between them a patriarchal cross set on globe inscribed PAX Rev: Large M; cross above, ANNO to left, XXI to right, A below, CON in exergue

Very nice! This is a very notable attempt to stress in pictorial form the dynasty established by Leo III.

Dear JeandAcre, I don’t know why you’re addressing your comment to me. 😊 ‘Twas not I initiated the thread, but you do write that you have difficulty searching for the operant thread, which in this instance was: “Post any attractive Byzantine you have”. Ergo my post! I agree with you that historical contexts concerning the coinage of are of prime importance. Even an insignificant nummus that a collector would disdain can reveal volumes about its find spot. Several years ago, a colleague asked me to identify a coin found in a Mycenaean context he was excavating in Greece. It was a Class B anonymous follis, given in the Dumbarton Oaks catalog vol. 3:pt.2 to Michael IV and there dated to “ca. 1030/35 – 1042 (?)”. In a Mycenaean stratum! But from this we learned that the Byzantines had used that site as a dump in the 11th-12th centuries! In the Byzantine series, I can perhaps think of no more historically significant coinage than the decidedly unaesthetically pleasing final issues of Contantine XI (never mind that in an unsupportable way, I find them beautiful. 😊). To that end, I offer two: Constantine XI. Constantinople. 1449/53. Eighth Stavraton. 0.63 gr. 12.7 mm. hr. 11. Sear -; DO 1789. Bendall, “The coinage of Constantine XI” (Revue Numismatique 1991, pp. 134-142), #110 (this coin). Obv: Nimbate bust of Christ; rev: bust of Constantine. Constantine XI. Constantinople. 1449/53. Eighth Stavraton. 0.63 gr. 13 mm. hr. 12. Sear -; DO 1789. Bendall, “The coinage of Constantine XI” (Revue Numismatique 1991, pp. 134-142), #129 (this coin). Obv: Nimbate bust of Christ; rev: bust of Constantine. Like you, I have difficulty navigating this site. I hope my reply falls in the appropriate place!

For decades my local ancient coin group friends have referred to the objects of my passions as "UBCs" (Ugly Byzantine Coins). When we next meet, I will have to show them the theme of this current post! While I am most attracted to the "beauty" of Palaeologan stavrata, my contribution here will be this ceremonial silver miliaresion of Constans II with his son Constantine IV. Constantinople, 659-668. 4.21 gr. 20.6 mm. 6 hr. Sear 987; Hahn 141; BM 89; T. 269.

Thank you. It's not the best, but it's the best of my examples! 🙂