PseudoPsellos

Between my portraits thinning out and my repeatedly missing deadlines, it's been awhile, but here's my representative for Andronicus III: Andronicus III Palaeologus, 1328-1341. Reduced Basilikon (AR, 20 mm, 1.14 g, 6 h), Constantinople. Christ Pantokrator seated facing on throne. IC - XC across field. Sigla: lis to left, B to right. // ΔHMHT[PIOC] left, ΓΟΔ in center, and ANΔPON[IK] right. St. Demetrius standing on left, nimbate, holding cross on his breast in his right hand, and Andronicus III, standing on the right, bearded and wearing loros, placing his left hand on his chest. DOC 875-6. LBC 826. LPC 118.4 (i). PCPC 197.2. Sear 2472. Summarizing the discussion in DOC: Several changes to the basilikon coinage were made during the reign of Andronicus III. The first was a reduction in weight, decreasing from the ~2g of his predecessors and the early part of his reign to a reduced standard of about 1.25g starting around the year 1335. This change paralleled similar developments in Venice. Due to inadequate silver supply across Europe and the Mediterranean during the 1320s, Venice halted production of its influential silver grosso (the coin which the basilikon was introduced to mimic), introducing lighter weight and somewhat debased mezzanino (half grosso) and soldino coins in its place. The Byzantine weight reduction likely reflects similar silver cost issues, as well as the recognition that there was no longer a need to maintain interchangeability with the old Venetian counterpart. Not pictured here, but Andronicus III's reign also saw the introduction of several new design types in addition to the standard Christ seated // two standing figures. Some of his coins depict the Virgin Mary, a single standing figure on the reverse, or a monogram/inscription. Curiously, these new types appeared _before_ the reduction in weight -- some of his heavy weight coins bear experimental designs, while some of his light weight coins (as above) bear the traditional design.

I love this! It looks like bring-your-child-to-work day at the imperial court. "The crown will fit when you're older, son." Lovely bronze and gold examples, @ValiantKnight, @Nerosmyfavorite68, @Valentinian, and @Hrefn. No matter the flair of the engraver, I've always found depictions of Constantine IV to be some of the most striking. This is the very face that got me started collecting Byzantines: Constantine IV, with Heraclius and Tiberius. 674-681. AR Hexagram (22mm, 6.83 g). D N CON – T – NUSPP Cuirassed bust facing three-quarter right, wearing crested helmet with plume and holding spear and shield (with horse design?) / [….] AMI Cross potent set on globe on three steps between facing figures of Heraclius, left, and Tiberius, right, both wearing crown and chlamys and holding globus cruciger. DO 26, MIB 67, Sear 1172.

Thanks, though the photo is on the flattering side. 🙂 Great question. My best guess was always a double (triple?) strike with remnants of a badly misaligned cross visible, though that doesn't look quite right. Perhaps it's an overstrike and we're seeing a different hexagram cross?

Keeping the beards flowing... Constans II, with Constantine IV. 641-668. AR Ceremonial Miliaresion (18mm, 4.05 g, 6h). Constantinople. Struck 659-668. Facing busts of Constans, with plumed helmet and long beard, and Constantine, beardless, draped, and crowned; cross above / Cross potent set on globe on three steps; palm fronds flanking. DOC 47, MIB 141, Sear 987.

Adding on a few more silver pieces to complement @voulgaroktonou's wonderful assemblage. Heraclius is known for introducing the abundant silver hexagram coinage in the East in response to war with the Sassanids. But in parallel, he also continued the tradition, going back to the time of Maurice, of producing a much smaller issue of "ceremonial miliaresia" with obverse types and legends mirroring the gold series. The "ceremonial" purpose these served remains unclear -- likely they were some sort of imperial donative -- but one presumes beauty took a backseat to function. I give you the flounder emperor: Heraclius, 610-641. "Ceremonial" Miliaresion (AR, 22mm, 3.69 g, 6h), Constantinople, 610-613. dN hERACL [IUS PP AVC]. Diademed and draped bust of Heraclius right / Cross potent on base and two steps between palms. DOC 55, MIB 128, Sear 788. And now a new pickup from CNG that arrived this week. In the West, the pattern of silver issues was stable relative to the preceding centuries, with the exception of the Ravennate hexagram @voulgaroktonou shared. (Though in DOC, Grierson suggests that attribution is uncertain and posits Thessalonica as an alternative.) Small silver coins continued to be issued at Ravenna and Carthage, with surviving examples from the latter weighing significantly more than from the former. The piece from Carthage below comes from a relatively common issue that likely began with Martina's coronation in 614. Heraclius, with Martina and Heraclius Constantine. 610-641. AR Half siliqua? (10mm, 0.60 g, 9h). Carthage mint. Struck 614-641. Crowned, draped, and cuirassed bust of Heraclius facing, beardless / Facing busts of Heraclius Constantine (left) and Martina (right), the former wearing crown and chlamys, the latter wearing crown, long pendilia, and robes; cross above. DOC 233, MIB 149, Sear 871. Thanks for indulging my first post on this forum that (hopefully) slipped in right before the deadline. I feel lucky to have found this community with so many passionate Byzantine students/collectors, and have learned so much already!