ewomack Posted May 25, 2023 · Supporter Share Posted May 25, 2023 Hello, I'm curious what people's opinions are on this coin. The facial portraits look great, but the bodies of the monarchs seem to often have a lot more detail on them. Is it just unevenly worn? I like it, but I'm unsure about it. Thoughts? 9 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Furryfrog02 Posted May 26, 2023 · Supporter Share Posted May 26, 2023 I think that is a great looking Justin II follis! I wonder if it wasn't perhaps struck lightly on the right side of the obverse. It looks like Sophia's body and the legend on that side are less detailed? Either way, It looks WAY better than mine...and I'd be happy to have it in my collection! 7 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Benefactor robinjojo Posted May 26, 2023 · Benefactor Benefactor Share Posted May 26, 2023 Nice coins! The OP follis is very sharply struck and very nicely centered. Great acquisition! The detail is above average, I think. The die engraving, typical for the period, is a bit uneven. There might also be some die wear involved, but for the type that coin is an excellent example. 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ominus1 Posted May 26, 2023 · Supporter Share Posted May 26, 2023 (edited) lQQks ok to me..one of the 3 byzantine coins i have this that one.....fairly common....big chunk o bronze these are....mines 30mm and at 11.72gms... Edited May 26, 2023 by ominus1 7 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Benefactor Simon Posted May 26, 2023 · Benefactor Benefactor Share Posted May 26, 2023 Another to show, heavy bugger 12.87gm and 30mm 7 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alexios Posted May 26, 2023 · Member Share Posted May 26, 2023 Looks fine to me! Justin II AE Follis Minted: 570 - 571 AD, at the Constantinople Mint Weight: 16.3g, Diameter: 30.0mm, Axis: 6H Obverse: DN IVSTINVS P P AUC,Nimbate figures of Justin and Sophia seated facing on double throne, holding globus cruciger and cruciform scepter, respectively Reverse: -,Large M; A/N/N/O - Ϛ (R.Y. 6) across field, Christogram above, Γ below Exergue: CON Reference: SBCV 360 8 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DLTcoins Posted May 26, 2023 · Member Share Posted May 26, 2023 (edited) I'd describe it as a slightly uneven strike rather than uneven wear. Nice coin overall. Edited May 26, 2023 by DLTcoins 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Benefactor robinjojo Posted May 26, 2023 · Benefactor Benefactor Share Posted May 26, 2023 (edited) I have several Byzantine bronzes that need identification and photographing. This coin, a follis of Justin II and Sophia is from the " Moneta Militaris Imitativa" Mint of CYZICUS, I believe. The style of the letters on the reverse, quite oversized compared to other folles of this emperor, plus the basically oval shaped seated figures on the obverse seem to point in this direction. The actual location of this mint is unknown, but is assumed to have moved with the army during campaigns in Persia. It is really quite an unprepossessing coin, but quite interesting historically. S J Mansfield published a paper in 2014 on this little known type. Justin II and Sophia follis, Cyzicus, 565-578 AD, officina A, year ten (frozen RY). 9.66 grams Edited May 27, 2023 by robinjojo 6 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ewomack Posted May 27, 2023 · Supporter Author Share Posted May 27, 2023 Nice coins, everyone! I'm glad that others appreciate the often underappreciated and "strange beauty" or "ugly beauty" of Byzantine coins. I'm still not completely sure why I'm so drawn to them. They have overshadowed my interests in pretty much all other coins at this point. Maybe someday I'll understand it, but it has something to do with their very human imperfections and abstractions. They admittedly don't amaze and stun like many Greek or Roman coins, but they sit somewhere between those earlier coins and later medieval coins in a merging that, for reasons that I still don't fully comprehend, I really like. As for the original Justin II coin posted, I didn't actually own the coin when posted, but I have since ordered it. I'll post more pictures when it arrives. Thanks for all of the comments on it, they helped me push the button. I had been dithering on doing that for a while. 4 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Benefactor robinjojo Posted May 27, 2023 · Benefactor Benefactor Share Posted May 27, 2023 That will be a very nice addition to your collection. Here's another type of follis issued by Justin II, and far scarcer than the seated coins. This coin was part of group lot, from Roma. Part of the fun with these coins is finding scarce to rare types in multiple coin lots. Because they can often be challenging to attribute auction houses and even dealers will simply sell these coins in groups, rather than expend the time and expense to writing them up for individual sale. Justin II, AE follis, Antioch, Year 1, 565/66 AD, officina A SB 378 15.8 grams 5 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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