Romanus III Histamenon Nomisma, Sear 1819

[Al Kowsky]

☺️Despite being a very common coin type, this issue is very popular & well struck examples with little wear usually do well at auction. This issue has been heavily counterfeited so it's a good idea to get a 3rd party grading service like NGC or David Sear to examine these coins 🧐. The coin pictured below sold at a heritage auction two days ago for $1,560.00. The coin grade of AU is probably accurate but the coin was struck from well worn dies, & I have to question the Strike 5/5 designation 🤔. The second coin I won at auction about three years ago, & its' grade of Ch XF is probably accurate too, & the designation of Strike 5/5 seems fitting for this coin since the dies weren't heavily worn. When the two coins are placed side by side the difference is obvious.

 

The coin pictured below will be auctioned by Heritage two days from now & I'll be curious to see what this coin fetches at auction 🤤. Presently the coin has been bid up to $1,650.00, & a coin of the same quality sold three years ago by Heritage for over $3,000.00 😲.

Numis Forum members are welcome to post their examples of this coin type or anything else that seems relevant ☺️.

[Alwin]

ROMANUS III
Histamenon, Constantinople
4,42 g - 24 mm
S 1819

The first photo is over 30 years old, so of course a film photo, and was taken with a flash.
The second one was taken with a digital camera recently, but I'm not happy with either one.

When I compare the amount of money I gave for this coin (even taking inflation into account) with the prices at which the coins are sold today, I don't know if I should laugh or cry.

[Prieure de Sion]

On 9/16/2022 at 6:05 PM, Al Kowsky said:

Numis Forum members are welcome to post their examples of this coin type or anything else that seems relevant ☺️.

I have buyed this week this Solidus - but it was Romanus II - dont know its relevant 😛

 

Constantine VII Porphyrogenitus and Romanos II Porphyrogenitus

Solidus of the Byzantine Macedonian dynasty 950/955 AD

Material: Gold

Diameter: 20.00mm

Weight: 4.42g

Mint: Constantinopolis

Reference: Sear 1751

 

Obverse:

Crowned facing busts of Constantine VII (on left), bearded, wearing loros, and Romanus II (on right), wearing chlamys pinned at right shoulder, jointly holding patriarchal cross with globular terminus between them. The Inscription reads: + COҺSTAҺT CЄ ROMAҺ AЧGG Ь R.

 

Reverse:

Half length bust of Christ Pantokrator facing, wearing nimbus cruciger with two pellets in each limb, pallium and colobium, right hand raised in benediction, book of Gospels cradled in left; single border. The Inscription reads: + IҺS XPS RЄX RЄGNANTIЧM.

[Al Kowsky]

6 hours ago, Alwin said:

ROMANUS III
Histamenon, Constantinople
4,42 g - 24 mm
S 1819

The first photo is over 30 years old, so of course a film photo, and was taken with a flash.
The second one was taken with a digital camera recently, but I'm not happy with either one.

When I compare the amount of money I gave for this coin (even taking inflation into account) with the prices at which the coins are sold today, I don't know if I should laugh or cry.

The 2nd photo is clearly better than the 1st 😉. In the 1987 edition of Sear's book, Byzantine Coins & Their Values, the value listed for this coin was $350.00. Today that amount in inflation related dollars is worth $912.50. I paid $1,020.00 for my coin 3 years ago, so it was certainly no bargain (that includes the slabbing fee)😏.

[Al Kowsky]

6 hours ago, Prieure de Sion said:

I have buyed this week this Solidus - but it was Romanus II - dont know its relevant 😛

 

Constantine VII Porphyrogenitus and Romanos II Porphyrogenitus

Solidus of the Byzantine Macedonian dynasty 950/955 AD

Material: Gold

Diameter: 20.00mm

Weight: 4.42g

Mint: Constantinopolis

Reference: Sear 1751

 

Obverse:

Crowned facing busts of Constantine VII (on left), bearded, wearing loros, and Romanus II (on right), wearing chlamys pinned at right shoulder, jointly holding patriarchal cross with globular terminus between them. The Inscription reads: + COҺSTAҺT CЄ ROMAҺ AЧGG Ь R.

 

Reverse:

Half length bust of Christ Pantokrator facing, wearing nimbus cruciger with two pellets in each limb, pallium and colobium, right hand raised in benediction, book of Gospels cradled in left; single border. The Inscription reads: + IҺS XPS RЄX RЄGNANTIЧM.

Your coin has a very attractive portrait & overall it's a nice looking example ☺️. The smaller diameter on the Constantine VII solidi allowed the engraver to cut a higher relief portrait than seen on the Romanus III gold coins. Your example is more attractive than the Sear plate coin 😉.

[Al Kowsky]

This coin ended up selling for $2,880.00 ☺️.

 

 

Edited September 19, 2022 by Al Kowsky
correction

[Hrefn]

The Virgin without a halo is the rarer type although I do not know if it commands a premium in today’s market.  I purchased these coins in 1990 from Harlan Berk, William Warden, and Dennis Gill respectively.  William Warden I believe had several beautiful examples, but after he sold them off he offered to buy this one, the center coin, back.  @Al Kowskyabove warns of counterfeits of this issue, and I second the warning.  Even 30 years ago fakes were known, so a provenance shorter than that would not constitute a guarantee of authenticity.  A false die is illustrated in Harlan Berk’s Roman Gold Coins of the Medieval World 383-1453 AD as #294.