ewomack Posted April 5, 2023 · Supporter Share Posted April 5, 2023 (edited) Once again, a Byzantine portrait has reeled me in. I already have another example of this same type, but this one highlights very different details. On this one, I really like the Emperor's stoic expression and the fingers on the globus cruciger that resemble enoki mushrooms. As with nearly all Byzantine coins, some areas fared better than others. While the upper torso of Theophilus looks pretty good, the reverse experienced much rougher times. Part of the Emperor's name on the obverse also rolled off, or perhaps was never fully struck. But, despite the coin's obvious flaws, that portrait keeps me coming back. Theophilus (AD 829-842) Æ Follis; Constantinople mint; AD 830-842; Obv: ΘEOFIL bASIL; Half-length figure standing facing, holding labarum and globus cruciger; Rev: ΘEO / FILE AVG / OVSTE SV / hICAS in four lines; 28mm; 8.26 grams; Sear 1667 My other Theophilus Follis, purchased last summer, looks a little washed out by comparison. Though I still like it, I think the consensus on this forum was that someone had given it a deep cleaning at some point. The reverse definitely survived in a more legible state than the example above. It thankfully still has shown no signs of bronze disease. Theophilus (AD 829-842) Æ Follis; Constantinople mint; AD 830-842; Obv: ΘEOFIL bASIL; Half-length figure standing facing, holding labarum and globus cruciger; Rev: ΘEO / FILE AVG / OVSTE SV / hICAS in four lines; 27.66mm; 7.46 grams; Sear 1667 Post any Theophilus coins you have! Edited April 5, 2023 by ewomack 15 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Benefactor Ancient Coin Hunter Posted April 5, 2023 · Benefactor Benefactor Share Posted April 5, 2023 (edited) I have a Michael II the Amorian and Theophilus Follis. Michael was a known Iconoclast. I read somewhere that Theophilus was a scholar and furthermore had two roaring lions, powered by steam, on either side of his throne....this historical tidbit was included in a tale of an Abbasid emissary visiting Theophilus on behalf of Harun al-Rashid, the famed caliph of Baghdad at the time...dark chocolate patina, hence a bit hard to photograph! Edited April 7, 2023 by Ancient Coin Hunter 8 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Valentinian Posted April 6, 2023 · Member Share Posted April 6, 2023 3 hours ago, Ancient Coin Hunter said: hence a bit hard to photograph! I cropped the two photos and put them into one and found it was only 560 pixels wide, which is pretty small. Then I greatly increased the exposure and got this: This photo is still not easy to see, but it is maybe a bit better. Perhaps you could zoom in on the coin to make the photos larger and to make more of the exposure based on the coin darkness rather than on the background white. Cell phone and iPad cameras can focus well at short distances and the can intentionally magnify the image of a coin if you want. 8 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nerosmyfavorite68 Posted April 7, 2023 · Member Share Posted April 7, 2023 It's a nice Theophilus! 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
quant.geek Posted April 7, 2023 · Member Share Posted April 7, 2023 Very nice! Note that there are several minor variations on that series, so you can go nuts trying to find them all. Byzantine Empire: Theophilus (829-842) Æ Follis, Constantinople (Sear 1666; DOC 13) Obv: ✷ ΘЄOFIL ЬASIL; Crowned and draped bust of facing, holding patriarchal cross and akakia Rev: Large M; cross above, X/X/X to left, N/N/N to right, Θ below Byzantine Empire: Theophilus (829-842) Æ Follis, Syracuse (Sear 1681) Obv: ΘЄOFIL ЬASIL; Crowned and draped bust of facing, holding patriarchal cross and akakia Rev: Large M; cross above, X/X/X to left, N/N/N to right, Θ below 9 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ewomack Posted April 8, 2023 · Supporter Author Share Posted April 8, 2023 Very nice coins, everyone! Thanks for sharing! I forgot that I have another Theophilus, this one, similar to the one above, as co-Emperor with his father, Michael II. Michael II the Amorian (AD 820-829) with Theophilus Æ Follis; Constantinople mint; Obv: MIXAHL S ΘЄOFILOS, crowned facing busts of Michael (on left) and Theophilus (on right); cross above; Rev: Large M, X/X/X to left, cross above, N/N/N to right, Θ below; 29.12mm; 6.21 grams; Sear 1642 6 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Furryfrog02 Posted April 8, 2023 · Supporter Share Posted April 8, 2023 Those are all great! These are my my Theophilius...Theophili? Unsure of the plural 😛 Michael II and Theophilius Theophilus on his own 6 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jims,Coins Posted April 9, 2023 · Member Share Posted April 9, 2023 81. AE Follis - Smyrna 1971 - Minted at Constantinople during the reign of Theophilus between 2 October 829 - 20 January 842. Obv. 0EOFIL‘bASIL’.: Three quarter length figure facing, wearing Loros and crown surmounted by tufa; he holds labarum in r. hand and gl. cr. in l. Rev. +0EO/FILEAVC/OVSTE SV/nICAS.: in four lines. BCVS #1667 - Minted at Constantinople during the reign of Michael II & Theophilus between 829 – 829 A.D. Obv. MIXIAHL.S.0EFILOS. Facing busts of Michael II, with short beard (on l.) & Theophilus, usually beardless (on r.) both crowned, the former wearing chlamys, the latter, loros; between their heads, cross. Rev. Large M between X/X/X & N/N/N; above, cross; beneath 0. BCVS #1642. 6 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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