A Handful of Trapezuntine Rarities

[TheTrachyEnjoyer]

Andronikos I Gidon anonymous Christ Chalcites trachy

This is the first time I have seen this coin type and it seems to only exist in the form of two or three museum specimens. It is extremely rare and seems to be the first in private hands (besides the plate possibly), with none in the sales archives of the recent decades.

 

Basil Megas Komnenos AE 🐔 

This coin, while not as rare as the previous, might be more fun. The eagle headed obverse looks quite chickenesque

Edited November 22, 2023 by TheTrachyEnjoyer

[Ancient Coin Hunter]

Interesting coins and thanks for posting them.

[Theodosius]

Had no idea that any Byzantine coin had an eagle on it. Animals in general seem pretty rare on Byzantine coins in general. 

I am not the most knowledgeable about this series, so are there many with animals? 

John

[Glebe]

This is Sear 2149 Uncertain of Nicaea, DOC IV Uncertain B.2 (Pl. XXXVII, B.2).

It is one of the rare “Christ Chalkites” types, along with S.2148, S.2150 & S.2153.

See below for two more examples of S.2149 posted on Forum Byzantine on (or about) 13/12/2012.

The top (neatly clipped) coin was from Orthodox Coins and the second from a private collection.

Ross G.

 

 

Edited May 22 by Glebe

[robinjojo]

On 11/22/2023 at 5:35 AM, TheTrachyEnjoyer said:

Andronikos I Gidon anonymous Christ Chalcites trachy

This is the first time I have seen this coin type and it seems to only exist in the form of two or three museum specimens. It is extremely rare and seems to be the first in private hands (besides the plate possibly), with none in the sales archives of the recent decades.

 

Basil Megas Komnenos AE 🐔 

This coin, while not as rare as the previous, might be more fun. The eagle headed obverse looks quite chickenesque

 

On another note, I downloaded a Roma Numismatics article about Byzantine aspron AR trachy dies of Manuel I Megas Komnenos.  Perhaps you've read it, but if not, here it is.  Roma is shutting down tomorrow, so I don't think this article will be accessible after Friday.  The file can be saved as a PDF on your computer,

6-Classification of the Aspron AR Trachy Reverse Dies of Manuel I Megas Komnenos (from Roma).pdf

Edited May 23 by robinjojo

[robinjojo]

Here's one more Roma Numismatics article.  This one is on the controversial hyperpyra of John III found as a hoard in Kosovo. 

2-An Unusual Hoard of Hyperpyra of John III (from Roma).pdf 

 

[CaveBear2]

Quote

This one is on the controversial hyperpyra of John III found as a hoard in Kosovo.

Currently there is many of those being sold on Ebay, I've also seen them everywhere from VCoins to CNG but they just look too suspicious.

The paper is interesting and so is the conclusion : "(...) suggest that these coins were the product of a superior 13th century forger". I might buy one if it's cheap enough, just for the mystery. 

[Glebe]

10 hours ago, CaveBear2 said:

Currently there is many of those being sold on Ebay, I've also seen them everywhere from VCoins to CNG but they just look too suspicious.

The paper is interesting and so is the conclusion : "(...) suggest that these coins were the product of a superior 13th century forger". I might buy one if it's cheap enough, just for the mystery. 

These odd types copying the John III hyperpyron Sear 2073 first appeared on the market not too many years ago, along with numerous examples from the same or similar dies with a variety of quite different patinas.

As far as I know there are no examples of these types in museums, so draw your own conclusions.

Ross G.

[theotokevoithi]

''controversial'' hyperpyra of John III.

These almost contemporary reproductions, on different shiny yellow metal (then), by a forger or a jeweller AND the patina on some of them AND the numerous modern articles-opinions on them makes them valuable.

They are a numismatic / token mystery and not a museum mystery (official mint needed).