TheTrachyEnjoyer Posted June 2, 2023 · Member Share Posted June 2, 2023 (edited) This strange piece showed up in a group lot. I only noticed it one minute before hammer and so had no time to identify…the lot ended up going for $300, a bit more than I was willing to gamble. Sadly no photo of the reverse was shared. What is this coin? Should I be kicking myself for passing it up? As they say, curiosity killed the cat and I hope this will not become a lot I seriously regret passing up. My initial guesses would be an Anglo Saxon pre-penny issue, possibly also frisian or Merovingian in origin. It could be silver that is deeply toned or even a fourree AU issue Edited June 2, 2023 by TheTrachyEnjoyer 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Roerbakmix Posted June 2, 2023 · Member Share Posted June 2, 2023 Do you have the other coins as reference to estimate the diameter? I don't recognize it as Frisian immediately. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
John Conduitt Posted June 2, 2023 · Supporter Share Posted June 2, 2023 I don't think it's Saxon. It's very crude even for them. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TheTrachyEnjoyer Posted June 2, 2023 · Member Author Share Posted June 2, 2023 3 minutes ago, Roerbakmix said: Do you have the other coins as reference to estimate the diameter? I don't recognize it as Frisian immediately. Here described as an imitation of a Byzantine Miliaresion by the auction house 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hotwheelsearl Posted June 2, 2023 · Member Share Posted June 2, 2023 16 minutes ago, TheTrachyEnjoyer said: Here described as an imitation of a Byzantine Miliaresion by the auction house $300 actually seems pretty good for that lot. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Roerbakmix Posted June 2, 2023 · Member Share Posted June 2, 2023 I believe most Venetian grosso were 20-21 mm; which would make the coin of interest fairly large for a tremissis. That having said, I do vaguely recognize it as such. 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TheTrachyEnjoyer Posted June 2, 2023 · Member Author Share Posted June 2, 2023 52 minutes ago, Roerbakmix said: I believe most Venetian grosso were 20-21 mm; which would make the coin of interest fairly large for a tremissis. That having said, I do vaguely recognize it as such. I wonder …could it perhaps be a gilt broach imitation of some roman or Byzantine coin? Seemingly it isnt a standard coin issue. Sadly we probably wont find out unless someone here bought the lot… 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
quant.geek Posted June 2, 2023 · Member Share Posted June 2, 2023 (edited) Typically listed as silk road imitations for potential burial. There were several different types, but I don't know if they were ever documented. You can search acsearch.info under that name if you want to find similar pieces. Here is one of mine that I purchased a while ago: Edited June 2, 2023 by quant.geek 5 1 1 1 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TheTrachyEnjoyer Posted June 3, 2023 · Member Author Share Posted June 3, 2023 1 hour ago, quant.geek said: Typically listed as silk road imitations for potential burial. There were several different types, but I don't know if they were ever documented. You can search acsearch.info under that name if you want to find similar pieces. Here is one of mine that I purchased a while ago: Mystery solved. Thank you 😁 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pellinore Posted June 3, 2023 · Supporter Share Posted June 3, 2023 That’s what I think too. It also explains the damage above the head: it’s where a hanger has been broken off. The coin is either a bracteate or medal aligned. Coins like this are often gold or gilt to imitate a solidus. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.
Note: Your post will require moderator approval before it will be visible.