Happy Easter!

[JAZ Numismatics]

Post any and all coins with Christian symbolism...

Michael VII Ducas, AD 1071-1078.
AE Follis, 25mm, 4.1g, 6; Constantinople mint.
Obv.: Nimbate bust of Christ facing, wearing pallium and colobus, holding book of Gospels; star to either side.
Rev.: MIXAHΛ RACIA O Δ; Bearded bust of Michael VII facing, wearing crown and loros and holding labarum and globus cruciger.
Ref.: SB 1878.

Edited March 31 by JAZ Numismatics

[Ancient Coin Hunter]

Oh gosh where to start. My number of Jesus coins has expanded.

But I'll pick out this one which features Mary on the reverse.

This is courtesy of the last Leu Web auction of 2023. I sort of consider Byzantine coins "ancient" because they represent continuity from the world of Late Antiquity, when the solidus and follis were introduced. Meanwhile the Byzantines never called themselves anything other than "Romans."

Jesus' face is in good condition. Likewise so is the Virgin Mary's. Anonymous types usually feature the "Jesus Christ, King of Kings" inscribed legend on the reverse, Mary is somewhat rare as it turns out. This was my second to last purchase in 2023.

 

Anonymous Folle, time of Romanus IV, circa 1068-1071. 

Follis (Bronze, 26 mm, 9.69 g, 5 h), Constantinopolis.

Nimbate bust of Christ facing, wearing tunic and pallium, raising his right hand in benediction and holding book of Gospels in his left; in fields, IC - XC. 

Rev. Nimbate bust of the Virgin Mary facing, orans, wearing pallium and maphorium; in fields MHP - ΘV.

DOC Class G. SB 1867. Some deposits, otherwise, very fine.

 

[Nerosmyfavorite68]

I really didn't collect these until recent years.  I always preferred coins with rulers or what-not.  However, I've gained an appreciation for them, especially the series A2.  I'm trying to find passable examples of the different decoration varieties.

Here's my 'best' one.

 

A2, 28mm, 12.25 g, with a possibly original flan chip.

Here's my version of the 1867.  While the coin isn't very worn, the terrible strike leaves the coin muddled and most of the 1866 is still apparent.

[sand]

Happy Easter! Here's a Byzantine coin, from my collection.

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".

[El Cazador]

Happy Easter!

[Bonshaw]

Happy Easter!  I like that this is a full-body portrait of Christ, standing facing on obverse.

Lettering on front:

EMMA OYHA

IC-XC

First and last letters of Jesus Christ; Emmanuel

Reverse, Eudocia on left and Constantine X (1059-67) on right, standing facing, with labarum between.

I think that this is the Constantinople Mint?  But I'm still learning, and I'm not certain of the identification. My father had this as Ratto 2021 with EMMA NOVEA on front (the OYHA or NOVEA is obscured). 

This looks to me like an overstrike. For Easter, I like to imagine that this is an overstrike on a Roman depiction of Pluto, god of the underworld, perhaps one of the nice Caracalla provincials from Cyzicus. (That identification is only my symbolic imagination).

Here it is in hand, I think Christ is a lot more photogenic than in the fixed photo:

 

Edited March 31 by Bonshaw

[ambr0zie]

Happy Easter for all who celebrate (I'm orthodox so I will celebrate Easter in more than 1 month - 5th of May).

Here are my coins with Christ:

23 mm, 6,54 g.
Byzantine Empire. Attributed to John I - 11 December 969 - 10 January 976. Anonymous Æ follis class A1. Constantinople.
+ЄMMA-NOVHL, facing bust of Christ, wearing nimbus cruciger, two pellets in each cross limb, pallium and colobium, holding ornamented Gospels with both hands, to left IC, to right XC / +IҺSЧS XRISTЧS ЬASILЄЧ ЬASILЄ (Jesus Christ King of Kings), legend in four lines across field, circle below.
Sear 1793.

26,8 mm, 10,35 g.
Byzantine Empire. Romanus III or Michael IV, 12 November 1028 - 10 December 1041. Ӕ anonymous follis, class B. Constantinople.
+ЄMMA]NOVH[Λ, facing bust of Christ, wearing nimbus cruciger, pallium and colobium, holding gospels with both hands, to left IC, to right XC / Cross on three steps with pellet at each extremity, in fields IS - XS / BAS-ILE / BAS-ILE (Jesus Christ, King of Kings).
SBCV 1823.

20,5 mm, 1,9 g,
Venice. Alvise Mocenigo III 1722-1732. Billon soldo – 12 bagattini. DEFENS NOSTER, Jesus Christ standing, nimbate, right hand raised in benediction, book of gospels in left / S M V ALOYS MOC, Doge kneeling left before winged lion of Saint Mark, left paw resting on book of gospels, in exergue value *12* (12 bagattini). KM# 499; CNI VIII# 54; Pap# 39; Paol# 22.

17 mm, 0,87 g.
Byzantine Empire. Romanus IV Diogenes 1068-1071. AR 2/3 miliaresion. Constantinople.
MHP-ΘV (barred), nimbate facing bust of the Virgin Mary, wearing pallium and maphorium, holding with both hands medallion of nimbate bust of infant Christ; dotted single border / + ΘKЄ / BΘ, PΩMA/NΩ ΔЄCΠO/TH TΩ ΔΙΟ/ΓЄΝЄΙ, legend in five lines; three pellets below, linear single border. Sear 1865.

26,5 mm, 2,7 g.
Byzantine Empire. John II Comnenus 1118-1143. Billon aspron trachy. Thessalonica.
MHP – ΘV, Virgin Mary seated facing on throne, holding Christ medallion on breast / + Iω ΔΕCΠΟT Tω ΠOPΦVPOΓENHT, John standing facing, holding labarum and akakia.
Sear 1952.

[ela126]

My Theodore 1 which I’m rather proud of, Mary and baby Jesus on the obverse:

 

[ewomack]

Though I have mixed feelings about this thread, as largely a Byzantine collector, I do come across quite a few coins depicting Jesus. They are often aesthetically appealing, numismatically fascinating, and historically revealing. Iconography played a huge role in the history of Byzantium, so depictions of religious figures on their coins remain an important historical, and arguably political, topic. The three Anonymous types below are from my personal pile. My interest in them remains mostly historical.

Class A3

Constantine VIII & Basil II (Circa 1025); Æ Anonymous Follis, class A3, Obv: "+EMMA-NOVHA," Facing bust of Christ, left hand holding the book of Gospels, right hand making blessing gesture; Rev: "+IhSUS  XRISTUS BASILEU BASILE" in 4 lines; 27mm x 29mm, 10.41g; DOC A2.41, Sommer 40.3.6, Sear 1818
 

Class B

Romanus III (1028-1034); Constantinople; Æ Anonymous Follis, Class B, Obv: IC to left, XC to right, to bust of Christ, nimbate, facing, holding book of Gospels; Rev: IS XS / BAS ILE / BAS ILE to left and right above and below cross on three steps; 29 mm. 10.2 gm.; Sear 1823

Class G

Romanus IV Diogenes AD (1068-1071); Constantinople; Æ Anonymous Follis, Class G, Obv: IC-XC to left and right of bust of Christ, nimbate, facing, right hand raised, scroll in left, all within border of large dots; Rev: MP-ΘV to left and right of Mary, nimbate, ands raised, all inside border of large dots; 26-28 mm. 10.2 gm.; Sear 1867
 

 

Edited April 1 by ewomack

[Hrefn]

Manuel I, likely struck 1160-64.   On the left, Christ in glory clasping the Gospel.  On the right, Manuel with St. Theodore, a military saint martyred in the early 4th century.  Purchased from Solidus Numismatik, in Munich, Germany.  Christos anesti to all those celebrating Easter.  

 

[JAZ Numismatics]

10 hours ago, Hrefn said:

Manuel I, likely struck 1160-64.   On the left, Christ in glory clasping the Gospel.  On the right, Manuel with St. Theodore, a military saint martyred in the early 4th century.  Purchased from Solidus Numismatik, in Munich, Germany.  Christos anesti to all those celebrating Easter.  

 

Phenomenal strike for a scyphate, great find!

Here is something from my recent Spanish lot, a blanca of Enrique IV. The reverse shows a lion (traditional symbol of Christ) with the inscription XPS VINCIT XPS REGNAT, Christ conquers, Christ reigns. This legend is about as clear as they get on these types...

 

SPAIN. Kingdom of Castile and Leon.

Enrique IV, 1454-1474.

BL Blanca, 22mm, 0.9g; Toledo mint, 1471-1474.

Obv.: ENRICVS DEI GRATIA REX; Castle in double-lined diamond, circles at each side, mintmark T below, all within circular dotted border.

Rev.: + XPS:VINCIT:XPS:REGNAT; Lion in double-lined diamond, circles at each side, all within circular dotted border.

Ref.: AB 828.

[JeandAcre]

On 3/31/2024 at 5:59 PM, ewomack said:

Though I have mixed feelings about this thread, as largely a Byzantine collector, I do come across quite a few coins depicting Jesus. They are often aesthetically appealing, numismatically fascinating, and historically revealing. Iconography played a huge role in the history of Byzantium, so depictions of religious figures on their coins remain an important historical, and arguably political, topic. The three Anonymous types below are from my personal pile. My interest in them remains mostly historical.

Class A3

Constantine VIII & Basil II (Circa 1025); Æ Anonymous Follis, class A3, Obv: "+EMMA-NOVHA," Facing bust of Christ, left hand holding the book of Gospels, right hand making blessing gesture; Rev: "+IhSUS  XRISTUS BASILEU BASILE" in 4 lines; 27mm x 29mm, 10.41g; DOC A2.41, Sommer 40.3.6, Sear 1818
 

Class B

Romanus III (1028-1034); Constantinople; Æ Anonymous Follis, Class B, Obv: IC to left, XC to right, to bust of Christ, nimbate, facing, holding book of Gospels; Rev: IS XS / BAS ILE / BAS ILE to left and right above and below cross on three steps; 29 mm. 10.2 gm.; Sear 1823

Class G

Romanus IV Diogenes AD (1068-1071); Constantinople; Æ Anonymous Follis, Class G, Obv: IC-XC to left and right of bust of Christ, nimbate, facing, right hand raised, scroll in left, all within border of large dots; Rev: MP-ΘV to left and right of Mary, nimbate, ands raised, all inside border of large dots; 26-28 mm. 10.2 gm.; Sear 1867
 

 

@ewomack, those are some freaking Brilliant examples.

...From a professed Christian and recovering preacher's kid, your eloquently implicit disillusion with institutionalized Christianity, across any number of historic traditions, couldn't resonate more loudly. 

But, especially since both the Greek and Ethiopian Orthodox Easter isn't until May 5, I get another minute to do this.  Thank you, the further I venture into less familiar traditions, the more fun it is.  Predicated on the notion that each of them has had people who related to Jesus first, and the other bullshit later.  (...Why, just for one, I wish that 'Christian nationalists' would actually read the Bible they already had (social justice? try the prophet Isaiah, just for one), instead of spouting about their own moronically revisionist agendas.)

Sorry for the rhetorical excess.  Time for some coins.  ...Already.

Kingdom of Aksum /Axum.  Hataz (Munro-Hay: "c. 570;" much more cogently dated by Hahn to (embarrassing edit; cf. p. 16:)  c. 600-620.  AE. 2 examples.

Obv.  Hataz facing, crowned.  Legend (In Ge'ez, a proto-Amharic language (think, Old English), still used in Ethiopian Orthodox liturgy (think, the Latin Mass): 'King Hataz.'

Rev.  Cross, framed by a lozenge.  Legend (more Ge'ez:) 'Mercy to the peoples.'

Cf. Hahn 488-91 (mysteriously identified --from the plates-- as 'silver;' cf. 502-507); Munro-Hay Type 141.

(Edit #2, along similar lines:)  What I need about the reverse legend is how it riffs on earlier ones in Koine Greek, which can be rendered as 'Let there be joy to the people.'  With Hahn's later dating of the reign, you could read this in terms of the lingering effects of the 'Justinian Plague' (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Plague_of_Justinian  https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m000rc43), and Sasanian maritime incursions, already including Alexandria and much of the coast of the Red Sea.  Not a happy time for these folks.

 And then there's only this.  After which, thank you, I will withold further comment.  --Well, in light of the prevailing context, why not?  Jesus was, thank you, Jewish.  (Or I, for one, would have no need of him.)  All you really have to do is to travel back the couple of millennia that were involved.)

https://www.cnn.com/2024/03/31/us/jesus-christ-skin-color-easter-blake-cec/index.html

 

 

 

Edited April 2 by JeandAcre
I'm not done getting acquainted with Hahn as what, from here, is still a new secondary reference. ...I could only wish that, just for annotations, it was more of an improvement on Munro-Hay.