Furryfrog02 Posted November 2, 2023 · Supporter Share Posted November 2, 2023 I picked this up the other day because I love Constantine X folles and I thought I could detect a bit of an overstrike that I may be able sus out. Imagine my surprise when it arrived yesterday and was paper thin! I compared it to my other Constantine X follis and the difference was quite striking - no pun intended. I did a quick vcoins and acsearch look-see and the average weight for these seems to be in the mid 7 grams with a high of a bit over 11g and a low of mid 5s. What do you think caused this? Was it struck on a super thin planchet? If so, wouldn't that make people not want to use it for trade? The whole point of official coinage being a (somewhat) standard weight (for ancient times). I don't think the reduced weight is due to environmental damage either. Could it be a contemporary counterfeit? I'd love to hear your thoughts. Thanks for looking! 9 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Al Kowsky Posted November 3, 2023 · Member Share Posted November 3, 2023 4 hours ago, Furryfrog02 said: I picked this up the other day because I love Constantine X folles and I thought I could detect a bit of an overstrike that I may be able sus out. Imagine my surprise when it arrived yesterday and was paper thin! I compared it to my other Constantine X follis and the difference was quite striking - no pun intended. I did a quick vcoins and acsearch look-see and the average weight for these seems to be in the mid 7 grams with a high of a bit over 11g and a low of mid 5s. What do you think caused this? Was it struck on a super thin planchet? If so, wouldn't that make people not want to use it for trade? The whole point of official coinage being a (somewhat) standard weight (for ancient times). I don't think the reduced weight is due to environmental damage either. Could it be a contemporary counterfeit? I'd love to hear your thoughts. Thanks for looking! I think the counterfeit idea has some substance 😉. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ela126 Posted November 3, 2023 · Member Share Posted November 3, 2023 Don’t have an answer for you but I do have Maurice Tiberius Pentanummi that is paper thin as well. Normal flan diameter but less than a 1/3rd the weight of regular ones. It’s like 0.61g. Back of coin looks normal too no where near the time period as yours so certainly not linking the 2, just another Byzantine coin mystery.. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Roman Collector Posted November 3, 2023 · Patron Share Posted November 3, 2023 This is an interesting thread. I know next to nothing about this coin, which I've had for 25 years or more. Constantine X and Eudocia, AD 1059-1067. Byzantine Æ Follis, 5.58 g, 25.7 mm, 5 h. Constantinople, AD 1059-1067. Obvs: +ЄMMANOVHΛ IC XC, Christ on footstool holding gospels. Revs: ЄVΔK AVΓO +KѠN T ΔK, Eudocia and Constantine holding labarum. Ref: Sear 1853; DOC 8. 6 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Furryfrog02 Posted November 3, 2023 · Supporter Author Share Posted November 3, 2023 2 hours ago, Roman Collector said: This is an interesting thread. I know next to nothing about this coin, which I've had for 25 years or more. Constantine X and Eudocia, AD 1059-1067. Byzantine Æ Follis, 5.58 g, 25.7 mm, 5 h. Constantinople, AD 1059-1067. Obvs: +ЄMMANOVHΛ IC XC, Christ on footstool holding gospels. Revs: ЄVΔK AVΓO +KѠN T ΔK, Eudocia and Constantine holding labarum. Ref: Sear 1853; DOC 8. I like that one! It looks like Christ is holding his disembodied head in his hand 😛 At least, the size of yours matches about what the weight should be on the average that I've seen. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Benefactor Ancient Coin Hunter Posted November 3, 2023 · Benefactor Benefactor Share Posted November 3, 2023 Interesting coin and commentary. It doesn't seem to be a counterfeit to me - I mean, what's the point? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Furryfrog02 Posted November 3, 2023 · Supporter Author Share Posted November 3, 2023 14 minutes ago, Ancient Coin Hunter said: Interesting coin and commentary. It doesn't seem to be a counterfeit to me - I mean, what's the point? Yeah I don't think it is a modern counterfeit. No point in counterfeiting such a low value coin. But perhaps a contemporary one? I don't know. Or was the QC out sick at the mint that day and it slipped through? lol Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ela126 Posted November 3, 2023 · Member Share Posted November 3, 2023 35 minutes ago, Furryfrog02 said: Yeah I don't think it is a modern counterfeit. No point in counterfeiting such a low value coin. But perhaps a contemporary one? I don't know. Or was the QC out sick at the mint that day and it slipped through? lol I have a different constantine X Follis, sb 1854, which I specifically bought because of its size, 13.54g… these usually range from 6-11g max. I think overstriking was very common, although I wonder if they had different die sizes for this purpose. 5 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Furryfrog02 Posted November 3, 2023 · Supporter Author Share Posted November 3, 2023 That one is beefy! I have that style of Constantine X follis as well. I will weigh when I get home to see what it is. I don't think it is quite that heavy though. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Benefactor Simon Posted November 4, 2023 · Benefactor Benefactor Share Posted November 4, 2023 This ugly Class C I always found interesting because of the length of Christ. I thought it was half overstruck on your Constantine X type. Sorry it is not an attractive coin but Christ is full length. 30.58mm and 7.7gm 4 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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