The epic Byzantine portrait thread

[Valentinian]

I usually post to this topic, but this time I will let my webpages (with the link provided by @Severus Alexander suffice:  
http://augustuscoins.com/ed/ByzAnon/

There is a lot of information there, including relative frequencies, that collectors will find interesting.
Here is one, Class I:

25-23 mm. 5.62 grams.
Attributed to Nicephorus III (1078-1081).
Sear 1889. 

[Nerosmyfavorite68]

I might as well skip the others and just post my 'best' one. This would be quite an expensive piece, were it not for the ancient chip, which made the piece very affordable.  It's my personal theory that it came out of the mint looking like that.  The weight corresponds almost exactly with the pieces of this variety.  The chip's in about the best possible place it could be.

I'd grade it at VF+ by wear. 

 

 

A2, 28mm, 12.25 g

The relatively tiny ones, c. 27-31mm, seem to be more common than the 35-40mm ones by a multiple of at least 50-1, at least in vcoins searches.

[nomisma]

Some pre-reform precious metal coins of Alexius I

[Edessa]

Alexius I Comnenus, AD 1081-1118. Æ Tetarteron (21mm, 3.48g, 6h). Thessalonica mint. Obv: I-C / X-C; Facing bust of Christ Pantokrator, wearing nimbus cruciger, pallium and colobium, and raising right hand in benediction, book of Gospels in left hand, pellet in each limb of nimbus cross. Rev: AΛZI ΔЄCΠ; Bust of Alexius facing, wearing crown and jeweled chlamys and holding cruciform scepter and globus cruciger. Ref: SB 1929; DOC 38. Ex CNG (June 1994) Multiple Lot.

[Severus Alexander]

@nomisma and @Edessa, you’re right that today we start on the Comnenus/Komnenos dynasty, but if you look on p.1 of the thread, you’ll see that the switch time isn’t until 3pm Eastern (noon Pacific). I’m quite grateful, though, as it means I finally get to post this again:

The troops have been far too rules-observant, I’ve been missing Donna’s wonderfully pissed off Constantinopolis! 😁

[sand]

Many very interesting Jesus 40 nummi bronze coins ("anonymous folles") have been posted by Nvmis Forvms members in this thread. It seems to me, that this thread can serve as an excellent reference, for anyone who wants to see interesting examples of Byzantine coins from all eras, and to learn about Byzantine coins from all eras.

The Jesus 40 nummi bronze coins ("anonymous folles") were struck from 969 AD to 1092 AD. These coins are often called "anonymous folles" because there is no image of the Byzantine Emperor on the coin, and the Byzantine Emperor's name is not mentioned anywhere on the coin. All of these coins have an image of Jesus on the obverse.

Here are my 2 Jesus 40 nummi bronze coins.

Basil II. AE 40 Nummi Follis. Minted 976 AD To 1025 AD. Constantinople Mint. Class A2. Sear 1813. Maximum Diameter 31.5 mm. Weight 12.89 grams. Obverse : Jesus Christ With "EMMA" On Left Edge, "NOVHL" On Right Edge, EMMANOVHL Is Latinized Hebrew For "Emmanuel" Meaning "God With Us", "IC XC" On Left And Right, Abbreviation For "IHSUS XRISTUS" Greek For "Jesus Christ". Reverse : "IHSUS XRISTUS BASILEU BASILE" Greek For "Jesus Christ King Of Kings".

Basil II Or Constantine VIII. AE 40 Nummi Follis. Minted 976 AD To 1028 AD. Constantinople Mint. Class A3. Sear 1818. Maximum Diameter 28.7 mm. Weight 9.27 grams. Obverse : Jesus Christ With "EMMA" On Left Edge, "NOVHL" On Right Edge, EMMANOVHL Is Latinized Hebrew For "Emmanuel" Meaning "God With Us", "IC XC" On Left And Right, Abbreviation For "IHSUS XRISTUS" Greek For "Jesus Christ". Reverse : "IHSUS XRISTUS BASILEU BASILE" Greek For "Jesus Christ King Of Kings".

Edited August 10, 2023 by sand

[voulgaroktonou]

Alexios I Komnenos, emperor (1081 - 1118).

Alexios began his career as a general under Michael VII and Nikephoros III. Alexios revolted against Nikephoros and attained the throne with the support of the military aristocracy. At his accession the empire was in dire straits: the  Seljuks occupied most of Asia Minor, while the Pechenegs threatened the Danubian provinces, and Robert Guiscard was preparing to attack Constantinople. Alexios acted effectively: in 1081–93 he overcame the Normans and defeated the Pechenegs.

 

When Alexios came to the throne, he inherited a coinage which had become seriously debased over the course of much of the 11^th century. He was initially hard pressed dealing with external threats, but by 1092 he had effectively restored stability and was able to carry out a major monetary reform, restoring a gold coin of reasonable fineness in the form of the hyperpyron and creating new fractional denominations of electrum and billon, which with the copper (initially lead) tetarteron were to form the standard coinage of the Komnenian period.

 

 

Pre reform coinage 1081-1092

Silver Alloy Miliaresion, Constantinople, 1081-92. 1.77 gr. 24.5 mm. 5 hr. Sear 1897; DO 10. Obverse: Virgin orans; reverse: emperor standing, holding long cross and resting hand on sword.

Electrum Aspron Trachy, Thessalonica, 1082-87. 4.29 gr. 27.8 mm. 6 hr. Sear 1905; DO 5a. Bust of Christ on obverse; on the reverse St. Demetrius offers to emperor on right a patriarchal cross on a long shaft.

Silver Tetarteron, Thessalonica, 1081-87. 3.75 gr. 17.2 mm. 6  hr. Sear 1906; DO 8. Bust of Virgin orans, a small medallion with the infant Christ on her breast / emperor holds a jeweled scepter and globus cruciger.

Silver Tetarteron, Thessalonica, 1087-92. 3.85 gr. 18.9 mm. 6 hr. Sear 1907; DO 9. Christ seated on obverse; the reverse has a bust of Alexios holding a labarum and an akakia.

 

Post reform coinage 1092-1118

Hyperpyron, Constantinople, 1092-1118. 4.40 gr. 30.7 mm. 6 hr. Sear 1913; DO 20g. The obverse bears an enthroned Christ; on the reverse, the emperor holds a labarum and globus cruciger. Note the exaggerated beading of his robe in the right field. The coinage reform of 1092 saw the introduction of a gold coin of reasonable fineness of 21 carats.

Electrum Aspron Trachy, Thessalonica, 1092-1118. 4.01 gr. 30.1 mm. 4 hr. Sear 1926; DO 23a. The obverse bears an enthroned Christ, but it is almost entirely worn away. A prominent XP graffito was placed, perhaps to replace the worn image of the Savior. On the reverse , the emperor, on the left, is crowned by the Virgin, on the right.

Pb. Tetarteron, Constantinople, 1092-3. 5.43 gr. 20.7 mm. 6 hr. Not in Sear; DO 32. This lead tetarteron is a coronation issue celebrating the accession of the young John II as co-Augustus with his father. On the obverse, Christ and John hold a labarum. On the reverse, John’s parents, Alexios and Irene hold a long cross.

Pb. Tetarteron, uncertain mint, 1092-3. 2.45 gr. 18 mm. 7 hr. Not in Sear; DO 42. On the obverse, a bust of Christ raises His right hand, and holds in His left, an open Gospel book. On the reverse, the emperor holds a long cross and a globus cruciger.

[Valentinian]

My page on Alexius I is here:

http://augustuscoins.com/ed/Byz/Alexius.html

One piece on that page is next:



25-23 mm. 3.68 grams.
Facing bust of the Virgin Mary, MP ΘV either side, holding medallion of Christ
Alexius standing holding labarum and globus cruciger
AΛЄ ...  for Alexius, beginning at 7:30.
Sear 1909

Check out the story of his coin reform on that page. Again,
http://augustuscoins.com/ed/Byz/Alexius.html

[Edessa]

2 hours ago, Severus Alexander said:

@nomisma and @Edessa, you’re right that today we start on the Comnenus/Komnenos dynasty, but if you look on p.1 of the thread, you’ll see that the switch time isn’t until 3pm Eastern (noon Pacific). I’m quite grateful, though, as it means I finally get to post this again:

The troops have been far too rules-observant, I’ve been missing Donna’s wonderfully pissed off Constantinopolis! 😁

Well just flay me on the steps of the Temple of Jupiter Capitolinus...

[Severus Alexander]

2 hours ago, Edessa said:

Well just flay me on the steps of the Temple of Jupiter Capitolinus...

I think de-nosing you in the Hippodrome would be more appropriate! 😝

I need to up my game on pre-reform Alexius. Are those silver tetartera supposed to be electrum, @voulgaroktonou?

Here's a "metropolitan" tetarteron issued for use in Constantinople, with some silver in it:

(Contrasting with the Thessalonican tetartera like this one, with zero silver:

)

And here's my trachy:

[voulgaroktonou]

20 hours ago, Severus Alexander said:

I need to up my game on pre-reform Alexius. Are those silver tetartera supposed to be electrum, @voulgaroktonou?

Dear Friend Severus, yes, pre the reform, the electrum was little more than silver.

[sand]

I see many good looking and interesting Alexius I coins in this thread, in bronze, silver, electrum, and gold.

Alexius I was the Byzantine Emperor from 1081 AD to 1118 AD. The following map is a snapshot of the nice Youtube video titled "The History of the Byzantine Empire : Every Month". The map shows the Byzantine Empire, near the end of the reign of Alexius I in 1118 AD. Compared to the end of the reign of Constantine X in 1067 AD (see my Constantine X post in this thread), we see that, in a disastrous setback, the Byzantine Empire has lost most of Asia Minor (what is now Turkey).

Here's my Alexius I billon aspron trachy. "Trachy" means "cup shaped". Under Alexius I, the first billon aspron trachy coins were minted. The first billon aspron trachy coins were 6% to 7% silver, and the rest of the coin was bronze. Later, as the centuries went by, the silver content of newly minted billon aspron trachy coins decreased, until finally they had no silver at all, and were just bronze. One can see, that my Alexius I coin has a large amount of silver, at least on the surface of the coin. Why were these coins cup shaped? No one seems to know for sure. Perhaps to make the thin coins structurally stronger, and less likely to get bent. Perhaps to make the coins look bigger, especially when heaped in a pile. Perhaps to make the coins more difficult to counterfeit. Perhaps for spiritual reasons.

Alexius I. Billon Aspron Trachy. Minted 1092 AD To 1093 AD. Constantinople Mint. Sear 1918. DO 25. Maximum Diameter 26.8 mm. Weight 3.01 grams. Obverse : Jesus Christ Seated Upon Throne, Bearded, With Halo, Holding Book In Left Hand. Reverse : Alexius I Bust Facing Front, Bearded, Holding Scepter Cruciger In Right Hand, Holding Globus Cruciger In Left Hand.

Edited August 12, 2023 by sand

[voulgaroktonou]

Although John II Komnenos was formerly proclaimed emperor as a child in 1092, his actual accession to power took place in 1118 on his father’s death, against the wishes of his mother Irene and his sister Anna, who conspired on behalf of her husband Nikephoros Bryennios. John waged successful campaigns against the empire’s enemies in Anatola, and in the west, he crushed the Pechenegs in 1122 and defeated the Serbs and Hungarians in 1127–29. He also attempted to check Venice's growing economic power in the east, but in 1126 was forced to yield to a Venetian naval expedition. In 1143 John died of an injury received in a hunting accident.

 

Electrum Aspron Trachy, Constantinople, 1118-1122. 4.38 gr. 33 mm. 6 hr. Obv. Christ seated on a throne, right hand raised, left holding Gospels. Rev. John and St. George holding long patriarchal cross. Sear 1941; DO 8b

Billon Aspron Trachy, Constantinople, 1137-1143. 3.54 gr. 29.3 mm. 6 hr. Obv. Bust of Christ. Rev. Bust of John holding a scepter cruciger in right hand and a globus cruciger in left. Sear 1944; DO 10b

Billon Aspron Trachy, Thessalonika, , 1137-1143. 4.06 gr. 27.7 mm. 6 hr. Obv. Virgin seated on throne, holding nimbate head of Christ on her chest. Rev. John standing, holding a labarum scepter in right hand and an anexikakia in left. Sear 1952; DO 11.

Copper Tetarteron, Thessalonika, , 1137-1143. 3.75 gr. 18 mm. 6 hr. Obv. Nimbate bust of Christ. Rev. Bust of John holding a jeweled scepter in right hand and a globus cruciger in left. Sear 1953; DO 14b.

[Nerosmyfavorite68]

Aha, I'm back in again!

Forum description: BZ99293. Electrum aspron trachy, DOC-1 IV 8d; Morrisson BnF 60/Cp/El/3; Wroth BMC 46; Ratto 2098; Grierson 1068; CLBC I 3.2.2; Sommer 60.5; SBCV 1942, VF, scyphate, obv. double struck, graffiti/scratches, Constantinople (Istanbul, Turkey) mint, weight 3.662g, maximum diameter 32.2mm, die axis 180o, 1122 - 8 Apr 1143 A.D.; obverse Christ seated facing on throne without back, bearded, wearing tunic and kolobion, raising right in benediction, gospels in left hand, IC - XC (Greek abbreviation: Ihso�s Xrist�s - Jesus Christ) flanking nimbus, three pellets at each side of throne; reverse + Iw / ∆ECΠO/TH in column of four rows on left, Θ / ΓE/PW/ΓI in column of four rows on right, John (on left) and St. George standing facing, together holding patriarchal cross on a small globe between them, John wearing crown, divitision, and chlamys with dot (control symbol) below the tablion, St. George nimbate, in military dress, left hand on sword at side; from the S. Lindner Collection; ex Numismatic Naumann auction 71 (4 Nov 2018), lot 680;

John II, Comnenus. AD 1118-1143.. AV hyperpyron (30 mm, 4.39 gm). Thessalonica. Christ seated facing on throne with back. Rev: Facing figures of the Virgin and John. SB 1949. EF. Graffiti on reverse.  Ex JJencek.

 

[Edessa]

John II Comnenus, AD 1118-1143. EL Aspron Trachy (34mm, 6h). Constantinople mint. Struck AD 1118-Circa 1122. Obv: IC-XC (barred); Christ seated facing on backless throne with single pellet on each arm, wearing nimbus cruciger, pallium, and colobium, right hand raised in benediction, book of Gospels cradled in left arm; double border. Rev: Iw/ΔEC/ΠO/TH-Θ/ΓE/Ω/ΓI; John II (on left), standing facing, wearing crown with pendilia, divitision, and chlamys, and St. George (on right), standing facing, nimbate, wearing military dress, sword in left hand, jointly holding between them long patriarchal cross set on globus; double border. Ref: DOC 8b; SB 1941. NGC Extra Fine. Ex Heritage Weekly Auction 6 July 2022, Lot 61270.

[sand]

@voulgaroktonou That's an interesting collection of John II The Good electrum and bronze coins. And interesting history text.

@Nerosmyfavorite68 Those are interesting John II The Good electrum and gold coins.

@Edessa That's an interesting John II The Good electrum coin.

John II The Good was the Byzantine Emperor from 1118 AD to 1143 AD. John II was called "The Good" because he was pious, and frugal, and a faithful husband (which was unusual for a medieval ruler), and he was moral and just. He was reputed to have never condemned anyone to death or mutilation (which was also unusual for a medieval ruler). He was generous with charity. He had great self control, and he was courageous, and he was an excellent strategist, and he was an excellent general. He has been called the "Byzantine Marcus Aurelius". The following map is a snapshot of the nice Youtube video titled "The History of the Byzantine Empire : Every Month". The map shows the Byzantine Empire, near the end of the reign of John II The Good in 1143 AD. We see that, compared with the end of the reign of Alexius I in 1118 AD (see my Alexius I post in this thread), the Byzantine Empire has taken huge swaths of territory, west of northern Greece, and the coasts of Asia Minor (what is now Turkey), and with the aid of the Crusaders from western Europe, much of the Holy Land on the eastern Mediterranean coast, although the Byzantine Empire's rule over the Crusader states seems to have been somewhat weak.

Here's my John II The Good bronze half tetarteron. The tetartera and half tetartera were small, thick, flat bronze coins. The tetartera and half tetartera were minted during approximately the same era as the large, thin, cup shaped trachy bronze coins. Why were there 2 very different types of Byzantine bronze coins (small thick flat, versus large thin cup shaped) at the same time? I don't know.

John II The Good. AE Half Tetarteron. Minted 1118 AD To 1143 AD. Thessalonica Mint. Sear 1955. Maximum Diameter 17.0 mm. Weight 1.77 grams. Obverse : Saint Demetrius Bust Facing Front, Beardless, With Halo, Holding Sword In Right Hand, Holding Shield In Left Hand. Reverse : John II The Good Bust Facing Front, Wearing Crown And Loros, Holding Labarum In Right Hand, Holding Globus Cruciger In Left Hand.

Edited August 14, 2023 by sand

[voulgaroktonou]

1 hour ago, sand said:

That's an interesting collection of John II The Good electrum and bronze coins. And interesting history text.

Thank you. And I always love your chronological map of the empire!

[voulgaroktonou]

Manuel I Komnenos, emperor (1143–1180). Upon his father’s death, Manuel was proclaimed Autokrator.  One of the most contradictory figures among the Komnenos dynasty, chivalrous and courageous, Manuel imitated a western way of life; he admired such western institutions as jousts, which became fashionable in Constantinople during his reign. However,  many of his contemporaries resented this adoption of western mores, and led to serious disagreements with the Patriarchate.  As a sort of Christological pun on his name, Manuel placed the image of Christ Emmanouel on his coins. He died in 1180.

 

Electrum Aspron Trachy, Constantinople, 1143-1152. 3.82 gr. 33.4 mm. 6 hr. Sear 1957; DO2b. Bust of Christ Emmanouel (“God with us”, a name given to the Savior in Matthew 1:23). On the reverse, Manuel is crowned by the Virgin. I usually do not purchase broken coins, but when a small group of these was offered at the price of a MacDonald’s meal, I departed from my custom!   😊

Billon Aspron Trachy, Constantinople, 1167- ca.1180. 3.16 gr. 29.7 mm. 6 hr. Sear 1966; DO 13a. Obverse, Christ enthroned. Reverse, Manuel is crowned by the Virgin.

Copper Tetarteron, Constantinople, 1152-1160. 5.69 gr. 22.9 mm. 5 hr. Sear 1968; DO 15. Obverse, standing figure of the Virgin orans. To right, manus Dei (hand of God). Reverse, Manuel standing, holding scepter cruciger and anexikakia.

Copper Tetarteron, Thessalonika, 1152-1160. 3.84 gr. 24.8 mm. 5 hr. Sear 1975; DO 18. Obverse, bust of St., George, holding spear and shield; reverse, bust of Manuel, holding labarum and globus cruciger.

Copper Tetarteron, Thessalonika, 1143-1152 3.31 gr. 21.1 mm. 6 hr. Sear 1977 (Sear plate coin). DO 20. Obverse, monogram: Manouel, Despotes, Komnenos. Reverse, bust of Manuel, holding labarum and globus cruciger.

Half tetarteron, uncertain mint, 1143-1152. 1.75 gr. 18.9 mm. Sear 1979; DO 22. Obverse, brockage of the reverse. Reverse, bust of Manuel, holding labarum and globus cruciger.

[Simon]

I have been traveling for work the last month,back in forth to Seattle and Alaska thus I missed too many posting dates.

Here are two Hyperpyron by Manuel. 

Constantinople issue 

 

And the Thessalonica version, this one has a cert by David Sear. ( smaller die and one cross on Globe.)

Here is another favorite a Billion aspron trachy, very well struck. 

Another but this is a City tetarteron

 

And this one is a beautiful but off-center half tetarteron. 

 

 

[ewomack]

This is my latest and final Byzantine for this thread. I started collecting this series last summer, so I have only accumulated 14 coins at present. A 15th one is en route, but it depicts a much earlier Emperor. I have enjoyed seeing all of the fantastic Byzantine coins in this thread, along with the knowledge that others have Byzantine coin disease! 😁 I am not alone.

Manuel I Comnenus (1143-1183), Æ Tetarteron; Thessalonica; Obv: ⨀/Γ/Є to left and P-over-w/Γ/O/S to right, half-length bust of St. George facing, holding spear and shield ; Rev:  MANɣHΛ ΔЄCΠΟΤ, bust of Manuel facing, holding labarum and globus cruciger; 20 mm,3.24g; DOC 18; Sear 1975

[Al Kowsky]

39 minutes ago, ewomack said:

This is my latest and final Byzantine for this thread. I started collecting this series last summer, so I have only accumulated 14 coins at present. A 15th one is en route, but it depicts a much earlier Emperor. I have enjoyed seeing all of the fantastic Byzantine coins in this thread, along with the knowledge that others have Byzantine coin disease! 😁 I am not alone.

Manuel I Comnenus (1143-1183), Æ Tetarteron; Thessalonica; Obv: ⨀/Γ/Є to left and P-over-w/Γ/O/S to right, half-length bust of St. George facing, holding spear and shield ; Rev:  MANɣHΛ ΔЄCΠΟΤ, bust of Manuel facing, holding labarum and globus cruciger; 20 mm,3.24g; DOC 18; Sear 1975

Excellent portraits for a small bronze 🤩.

[Al Kowsky]

2 hours ago, Simon said:

I have been traveling for work the last month,back in forth to Seattle and Alaska thus I missed too many posting dates.

Here are two Hyperpyron by Manuel. 

Constantinople issue 

 

And the Thessalonica version, this one has a cert by David Sear. ( smaller die and one cross on Globe.)

Here is another favorite a Billion aspron trachy, very well struck. 

Another but this is a City tetarteron

 

And this one is a beautiful but off-center half tetarteron. 

 

 

Wonderful group of coins 😲! The billon aspron trachy looks like a presentation strike 🤨.

[Al Kowsky]

10 hours ago, Edessa said:

John II Comnenus, AD 1118-1143. EL Aspron Trachy (34mm, 6h). Constantinople mint. Struck AD 1118-Circa 1122. Obv: IC-XC (barred); Christ seated facing on backless throne with single pellet on each arm, wearing nimbus cruciger, pallium, and colobium, right hand raised in benediction, book of Gospels cradled in left arm; double border. Rev: Iw/ΔEC/ΠO/TH-Θ/ΓE/Ω/ΓI; John II (on left), standing facing, wearing crown with pendilia, divitision, and chlamys, and St. George (on right), standing facing, nimbate, wearing military dress, sword in left hand, jointly holding between them long patriarchal cross set on globus; double border. Ref: DOC 8b; SB 1941. NGC Extra Fine. Ex Heritage Weekly Auction 6 July 2022, Lot 61270.

Lovely toning on this coin 🤩.

[Nerosmyfavorite68]

 

MANUEL I COMNENUS (AD 1143-1180). EL Trikephalon (3.00 gm). Constantinople mint. Struck 1152-1167(?). Obv. Christ Pantokrator enthroned facing; IC-XC across upper fields. Rev. Manuel, holding akakia, and the Theotokos, raising hand in benediction, standing facing, holding between them patriarchal cross set on small globe; M-ΘV across upper fields, [MANᏌHΛ] to left, ΔЄCΠOTH to right. SB 1958 | DOC 3a. Near EF; edge broken. Electrum, 3.00 gm, 32 mm, 6 h

[Simon]

 

I know we are still on Manuel but I have Jet lag and I thought I would offer this Manuel coin that might have been used by his son Alexius II, no images on coins are known of Alexius II and it has always been assumed he continued with his fathers coinage for his short rule, he was also very young, , I think the best finds would be his father's coinage with his name. They have discovered Isaac II coins with the portrait and split beard of Andronicus. So it could be possible.

Manuel I, Comnenus (1143-1180), electrum aspron trachy, Thessalonica, Virgin enthroned facing, holding before her, nimbate head of the infant Christ facing, rev., Manuel and St. Demetrius standing facing, holding labarum between them; 1.89g (DO 9.5; S. 1974), four minor flan cracks, very fine Ex European Ambassador Collection, formed in the 1950s and 1960s.

When doing my research I ran into an article that delt with why these examples were clipped, the article was written by Robert D Leonard Jr. The article called
(99+) Andronicus Comnenus's Invasion Money of 1181-1182 | Robert Leonard - Academia.edu

It surmised that Electrum Aspron trachea from the reign of Manuel and John II had been clipped and hammered into shape to roughly half the weight of the normal denomination by Andronicus, to pay an army of mercenary's under the pretense of saving Alexius II the young ruler of the Empire from his mis deeding guardians. Andronicus successfully does take the city and becomes his new guardian. So these clipped coins were technically issued by Alexius II.

This article is an interesting theory and if true would make these clipped coins the only known coins of Alexius II.

Edited August 15, 2023 by Simon