Pellinore Posted May 24, 2023 · Supporter Share Posted May 24, 2023 Here's my Theodosius II, that I think is a very handsome coin. I wish I had its match of the West, too. 2856. AE2 Theodosius II (402-450). Minted in or for Chersonesos (Krim). Obv. Helmeted and cuirassed bust to the right, armed with a spear. THEODO-SIVS Rev. The two emperors Valentinian III of the West and Theodosius II of the east holding a long cross between them. [CONCOR-DIA AVG/ CON] but no text visible. 22.5 mm, 4.17 gr. Sear V 21184. Byz. Chersonesos Augustuscoins ES 1. 11 1 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
O-Towner Posted May 24, 2023 · Member Share Posted May 24, 2023 (edited) The only coin that hasn't been shown is Pulcheria, the sister of Theo II. It's a rare coin to say the least. I have a piece that I believe is an ae of her but is not struck well (not very shocking). It's either Eudocia or Pulcheria. Here it is: Obv: AE PVLCH ... (maybe) ; Bust right Rev: (CONCORDIA AVG); Empress enthroned facing with arms folded over breast Ref: Possibly RIC 425 or 427 What'd ya think? Edited May 24, 2023 by O-Towner 13 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Severus Alexander Posted May 25, 2023 · Supporter Share Posted May 25, 2023 (edited) 7 hours ago, Pellinore said: Here's my Theodosius II, that I think is a very handsome coin. I wish I had its match of the West, too. 2856. AE2 Theodosius II (402-450). Minted in or for Chersonesos (Krim). Obv. Helmeted and cuirassed bust to the right, armed with a spear. THEODO-SIVS Rev. The two emperors Valentinian III of the West and Theodosius II of the east holding a long cross between them. [CONCOR-DIA AVG/ CON] but no text visible. 22.5 mm, 4.17 gr. Sear V 21184. Byz. Chersonesos Augustuscoins ES 1. This is a beauty! I had one of these, but it shared the problem most have... the finders of these coins seem to be overwhelmed by the temptation to tool! Yours doesn't appear to have this problem, despite its excellent detail. Great coin! 4 hours ago, O-Towner said: The only coin that hasn't been shown is Pulcheria, the sister of Theo II. It's a rare coin to say the least. I have a piece that I believe is an ae of her but is not struck well (not very shocking). It's either Eudocia or Pulcheria. Here it is: Obv: AE PVLCH ... (maybe) ; Bust right Rev: (CONCORDIA AVG); Empress enthroned facing with arms folded over breast Ref: Possibly RIC 425 or 427 What'd ya think? I lean towards Eudocia based on the portrait style... at least it matches her portraits better on acsearch results: Pulcheria (ignore the crappy fake from Emporium Shamburg) and Eudocia. For the latter, here's a CNG example from 2005: Edited May 25, 2023 by Severus Alexander 11 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mc9 Posted May 25, 2023 · Member Share Posted May 25, 2023 (edited) @Severus Alexander The low silver present on the surface is intended for the Arcadius coin. Without seeing the coin in hand I don't think a decent conclusion can be made about it from a foto or on a distance, so to avoid further speculation I have removed my content from the Valerian II piece and my additional replies leaving this discussion. Thanks anyway. Edited May 25, 2023 by mc9 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Severus Alexander Posted May 26, 2023 · Supporter Share Posted May 26, 2023 Theo II portraits in AE are difficult. I don't have a good one. Here are a few different mints, all AE4: Rome (by Johannes): Alexandria: Constantinople: Cyzicus (I think): I haven't figured out the mint for this monogram type: 14 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mc9 Posted May 26, 2023 · Member Share Posted May 26, 2023 Macrianus: another poor quality coin, but my best portrait : D N MARCIANVS P F AVG : diademed, draped and cuirassed bust right Monogram of Marcianus; in exerque CON AE4, Constantinopolis, A.D.455 - 457, RIC X 542 monogram type ( 5,2 ) 11 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lrbguy Posted May 26, 2023 · Member Share Posted May 26, 2023 (edited) I have been reluctant to show my latest since they are so poor I have not been able to attribute them to city. But then again, they do have some form, so here goes. For Theodosius II DN THEODOSIVS PF AVG AE4 12mm (Thessalonika) or (Heraclea?) NO LEGEND Cross within wreath MARCIAN Marcian AE4 13mm Cyzicus? (Heraclea?) DN MARC IANVS PF AVG pearl diademed, draped and cuirassed bust, right Monogram type 3, within wreath, crux quadrata above, In exergue: C?,S_ ? Edited May 26, 2023 by lrbguy line spacing problem (no fixed) 11 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
expat Posted May 26, 2023 · Supporter Share Posted May 26, 2023 26 minutes ago, lrbguy said: I have been reluctant to show my latest since they are so poor I have not been able to attribute them to city. But then again, they do have some form, so here goes. For Theodosius II DN THEODOSIVS PF AVG AE4 12mm (Thessalonika) or (Heraclea?) NO LEGEND Cross within wreath MARCIAN Marcian AE4 13mm Cyzicus? (Heraclea?) DN MARC IANVS PF AVG pearl diademed, draped and cuirassed bust, right Monogram type 3, within wreath, crux quadrata above, In exergue: C?,S_ ? They look good to me. There is too much oneupmanship in collecting genres, never be reluctant to show coins of any grade or condition. They are all special and each one has it's own story to tell. If only we could hear them. 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Qcumbor Posted May 26, 2023 · Supporter Share Posted May 26, 2023 (edited) My poor, poor Marcian... Marcian, AE4 Diademed and draped bust right Marcian monogram in wreath 1.1 gr Ref : Roman coins # 4328 Q Edited May 26, 2023 by Qcumbor 14 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
akeady Posted May 26, 2023 · Supporter Share Posted May 26, 2023 This is my favourite Marcian. Ruler: Marcian (Augustus) Coin: Bronze AE4 D N MARCIANVS P F AVG - Diademed draped and cuirassed bust right - Monogram of Marcian in wreath Wt./Size/Axis: 0.93g / 11mm / 10h Acquisition: Elias AP Auction 27-Nov-2011 Also my only Marcian 🙂 ATB, Aidan. 10 2 2 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
O-Towner Posted May 26, 2023 · Member Share Posted May 26, 2023 (edited) Marcian AR Siliqua : Constantinople mint Obv: D N MARCIANVS P F AVG; Diademed bust right Rev: SAL / REI / PYI in three lines within wreath; CONS(star) in exergue Ref: RIC 529 Bought this one 20 some years ago from a guy whose father lived somewhere in the middle east and on weekends went to the market located near a river that flowed through the town. Kids would dive in the river and pull coins out of the banks and sell them, and this was one of them. Liked the story so never bothered cleaning it further. Edited May 27, 2023 by O-Towner 14 1 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pellinore Posted May 27, 2023 · Supporter Share Posted May 27, 2023 Love the siliqua (and the Martian!). Here are my two coins of this relatively happy reign, even fondly called a 'golden age' by Byzantine historians. 2853. AE Marcianus (450-457), Nicomedia?. Obv. Draped, diademed and cuirassed bust. (D N) MARCIANO P F A. Rev. Imperial monogram in wreath, under something (star?), NICO? in exergue. F. 12 mm, 0.93 gr. RIC 543-5. Wildwinds: monogram 2. AE Marcianus (450-457), Constantinopolis. Obv. Draped, diademed and cuirassed bust. D N MARCIANVS P F AVG. Rev. Imperial monogram in wreath, under cross, CON in exergue. EF. 12 mm, 0.87 gr. RIC 543-5. Wildwinds: monogram 1. 13 1 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
O-Towner Posted May 27, 2023 · Member Share Posted May 27, 2023 Quick question. Since this thread ends with Zeno in a couple of days would anyone mind if we continue it a bit and add coins of the Vandals, Ostrogoths and Visigoths afterwards? Would certainly like seeing some examples ... and Rome didn't disappear because of the move to Constantinople. 3 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
John Conduitt Posted May 27, 2023 · Supporter Share Posted May 27, 2023 Just now, O-Towner said: Quick question. Since this thread ends with Zeno in a couple of days would anyone mind if we continue it a bit and add coins of the Vandals, Ostrogoths and Visigoths afterwards? Would certainly like seeing some examples ... and Rome didn't disappear because of the move to Constantinople. It might need to go in a different forum, like the Byzantines are. I was thinking the Medieval forum could keep going, but the Empire splits up into a lot of bits and the rulers are a bit nebulous for a while. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
O-Towner Posted May 27, 2023 · Member Share Posted May 27, 2023 (edited) 35 minutes ago, John Conduitt said: It might need to go in a different forum, like the Byzantines are. I was thinking the Medieval forum could keep going, but the Empire splits up into a lot of bits and the rulers are a bit nebulous for a while. I certainly would like to keep it with this discussion, my opinion for what it's worth. And BTW, if you go to sites like ACSearch these types are certainly included. Edited May 27, 2023 by O-Towner 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mc9 Posted May 28, 2023 · Member Share Posted May 28, 2023 Here some Leo I coins, sadly all have poor obverse. D N LEO P F AVG : Diademed, draped and cuirassed bust right No tekst, Lion crouching left, head right // CON AE4, Constantinople, A.D.457-474, RIC X 674 D N LEO : pearl-diademed, draped, and cuirassed bust right No tekst, Leo standing facing, head right, holding long cross and placing left hand on head of captive // CN AE4, Constantinople, A.D.457-474, RIC X 703 D N LEO : pearl-diademed, draped, cuirassed bust right No tekst, Greek monogram type 5(a) within wreath, //KOC AE4, Constantinople, A.D.457-474, RIC X 720 D N LEOS P F AVG : Pearl diademed, draped and cuirassed bust right No tekst, Latin monogram type 2 within wreath. Æ4, Constantinople, A.D.457-474, RIC 688 14 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Qcumbor Posted May 28, 2023 · Supporter Share Posted May 28, 2023 My last contribution to this fabulous thread (apologies for a dreadful picture) ! Leo I. (457-474 AD). AE2 - Constantinople mint ? ca. AD 457-474 D N LEO PERPET AVG, diademed, draped and cuirassed bust right. SALVS R PVBLICA, Leo standing right, holding labarum and globe, spurning bound captive. 3.00 gr, 20-21 mm Ref : RIC X # 657. RC # 4339 The following comment, copied from the description of the coin at Auctiones.ch, where I bought it from : "This rare issue, one of the last Roman Imperial bronzes of considerable size and neat workmanship, is almost exclusively found on the Crimea and has consequently often been attributed to the Cherson mint. The mintmark CON makes it possible, however, that the issue was struck in Constantinopolis and then shipped to the Crimea." Q 13 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lrbguy Posted May 29, 2023 · Member Share Posted May 29, 2023 Some of you have some really excellent coins of Leo, at least by my standards. MC9: That lion reverse is tops in my book (probably since I don't have one). And Qcumbor surprised me with an AE2 - didn't expect to see one. My examples are more modest, but such as they are, here they are: LEO Leo I AE4 11mm Constantinople RIC X 714 DN L - E O diademed and draped bust r. No Legend Verina stg facing, holds globus cruciger (in r), and (crosswise) scepter left field: b right field: E Leo I AE4 9x12mm RIC X 694 [???] diademed and draped bust r. Latin monogram w/ (S) above Leo I AE4 10x11mm Constantinople? RIC X 702 DN L - E O diademed draped and cuirassed bust r. No legend. Emperor stg facing, head to L; holds long cross and places hand on kneeling captive. Left field: type A (clear) In exergue: CO This next has the same reverse motif but it has a different texture Leo I AE4 10mm Constantinople? RIC X 703 DN L - _E O_ diademed, draped (and cuirassed?) bust r. No legend. Emperor stg facing, head to L; holds long cross and places hand on kneeling captive. Left field: Cross? VERINA Coins were issued in the name of Verina that bear her legend. In lieu of one of those I will show another example of her reverse on a coin of Leo with clear details: Leo I AE4 11mm Constantinople RIC X 714 DN L - ___ ; diademed and draped bust r. No Legend. Verina stg facing, holds globus cruciger (in r), and scepter (crosswise) left field: b right field: (E) 11 1 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pellinore Posted May 29, 2023 · Supporter Share Posted May 29, 2023 (edited) I do have a coin that I bought as Verina's, but it is unappetizing to say the least, and doesn't carry a flattering portrait of this empress. A l RIC 714 like the one of @Lrbguy, but even smaller. 2854. AE4 nummus. Leo I (457-474) & Verina. Obv: Pearl-diademed, draped, and cuirassed bust right. Rev.: Verina standing facing, holding globus cruciger and sceptre. 8 mm, 1.02 gr. RIC X 714; LRBC 2272; DOC 583; MIRB 30; Sear 21436. Edited May 29, 2023 by Pellinore 11 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Benefactor Ancient Coin Hunter Posted May 29, 2023 · Benefactor Benefactor Share Posted May 29, 2023 Comment from the peanut gallery: These latter day AE4's are so strange that I wonder how they could have been used for legal tender. Thank goodness for Anastasius. 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
O-Towner Posted May 29, 2023 · Member Share Posted May 29, 2023 (edited) Leo AR Siliqua : Constantinople mint Obv: D N LEO PERPET P F AVG; Diademed bust right Rev: SAL / REI / PYI in three lines within wreath; CONS(star) in exergue Ref: RIC 646 Aelia Verina Ae Maiorina : Constantinople mint Obv: AEL VERINA AVG; Pearl-diademed and cuirassed bust right Rev: SALVS REPVBLICAE; Victory seated right inscribing a Chi-Rho on shield supported on low column; CONE in exergue Ref: RIC 655 Edited May 29, 2023 by O-Towner 11 1 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lrbguy Posted May 29, 2023 · Member Share Posted May 29, 2023 On 5/11/2023 at 2:02 PM, Severus Alexander said: Needless to say, the anepigraphic version of this coin is pretty rare and was presumably a special issue, somehow connected with the founding of Constantinople. Some oohs and ahs, please, as I’m sure my family won’t really appreciate it! 😆 I hope you will forgive a trip in a kind of way-back machine, but a few weeks ago in this thread you showed us your anepigraphic "eyes to heaven Dafne piece, which was impressive at first blush. The type is discussed by Speck and Huston in their study from 1992, without illustration, but in their table 3, second issue, they note that of the few examples known at that time all but one example are from officina A. The one that got away is an R5 from officina S. Is that your coin, or have more of these come to the surfance since 1992? How much has changed since 1992? 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Severus Alexander Posted May 30, 2023 · Supporter Share Posted May 30, 2023 8 hours ago, lrbguy said: I hope you will forgive a trip in a kind of way-back machine, but a few weeks ago in this thread you showed us your anepigraphic "eyes to heaven Dafne piece, which was impressive at first blush. The type is discussed by Speck and Huston in their study from 1992, without illustration, but in their table 3, second issue, they note that of the few examples known at that time all but one example are from officina A. The one that got away is an R5 from officina S. Is that your coin, or have more of these come to the surfance since 1992? How much has changed since 1992? Thanks for the comment, @lrbguy... and good sleuthing! Back in 1992 very few examples of the anepigraphic version were known, as you say, and my officina S does happen to be the coin Speck and Huston mention in their paper (it was sold in Aufhäuser 8 in 1991, lot 704). More have surfaced since then, including at least 2 from officina S. So it's no longer unique, sadly. (Though I do believe it's the best officina S out there.) As a gratuitous reminder for everybody, here's the coin again 😁: 8 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Severus Alexander Posted May 30, 2023 · Supporter Share Posted May 30, 2023 And, catching up, my best Marcian, Leo, and Verina portraits... Marcian: I have a few for Leo, including my only solidus: I also have the Cherson AE2 that @Qcumbor showed above: And since I love my grotty little AE4's I can't leave this out: My only Verina is this odd thing struck in lead. A solidus imitation having lost its plating? A test strike? (Or just a fake?) Weird item... There are some great coins shown above by @O-Towner, @lrbguy, and others. @Pellinore, that Marcian is phenomenal! 8 1 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Severus Alexander Posted May 30, 2023 · Supporter Share Posted May 30, 2023 (edited) As the switch to Anastasius and the Byzantine sub-forum is rapidly approaching, and I believe I'm taking over from @CPK with thread Caesar duties, I figured I'd better put a schedule together. Here's a draft, comments and corrections are most welcome!! Absent comments, this is what you'll be stuck with. 😄 (I guess I should probably solicit comments from the Byzantine subforum too, since new people will probably be joining the fun. Tomorrow I'll try to remember to do that.) I like the suggestion that we also continue with the migration period/successor kingdoms in the medieval forum, though I assume it wouldn't have so much of a focus on portraits. Anyone want to volunteer for thread Caesar duties for that? @O-Towner? @John Conduitt? @ValiantKnight? Byzantine draft schedule, part 1: Part 2: Edited May 30, 2023 by Severus Alexander 2 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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