voulgaroktonou Posted May 8 · Member Share Posted May 8 (edited) Two new silvers have entered my collection! First, at our local monthly coin show from last week, I purchased an above average basilikon of Andronikos II and Michael IX. This is a very common coin – I have 5 or 6 of them, but the preservation of this one exceeds all my others. The obverse bears an enthroned figure of Christ, while on the reverse, Andronicus and his son Michael hold a labarum. Although there exist a number of sigla on the various issues, it is the reverse legend that forms the 2 main divisions of this type . The much more common one is anonymous, as this one. Instead of naming the rulers, the legend simply reads: AVTOKPATOPEC POMAIΩN: emperors of the Romans. The rarer variety specifically names the rulers: ΑΝΔΡΟΝΙΚΟ ΜΙΧΑΗΛ ΔЄC: Andronikos and Michael, despot. The DO catalog lists 4 of the named coins and 28 of the anonymous types. Andronicus II Palaeologus and Michael IX , 1294-1320 Constantinople, 1304-1320 or later AR Basilikon, Class VIII, 2.10 gr. 23.2 mm. 5 hr. Obv: KYPIE BOHΘEI (Lord, help). Christ enthroned facing, nimbate, raising right hand, holding book of Gospels in left; IC - XC across upper fields. Star on each side of throne. Rev: AVTOKPATO - PEC POMAIΩN [N is retrograde]. Andronicus (bearded) and Michael (beardless? Or perhaps bearing the start of whiskers) standing facing, each raising hand to chest and holding labarum on base, with O beneath the plaque. References: Sear 2402; DO 535-538 (stars as DO 536); LPC 88, 35; PCPC 167.3; Ashmolean 773 The second coin, a miliaresion of Theophilos and his son Michael III arrived a few days later. Typically aniconic as is the denomination in this period, in my view its beauty consists of the elegance of the letter forms of the 5 line obverse inscription and on the reverse, that framing the cross on steps. Theophilos , 829-842, with Michael III Constantinople, 840-842 AR Miliaresion, Class V, 2.21 gr. 24.7 mm. 12 hr. Obv: +ΘЄO / FILOS S MI / XAHL ЄC ΘЄ’ / bASILIS RO / MAIOh (Theophilos and Michael, in God, emperors of the Romans), in five lines within triple border. Rev: IhSЧS XRIS - TЧS hICA (Jesus Christ conquers). Cross potent on three steps within triple border. References: Sear 1664; DO 12; BNP 7-9; BM 14; T. 39; R. 1839 Edited May 8 by voulgaroktonou correction of description 18 2 6 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hrefn Posted May 8 · Supporter Share Posted May 8 Those are superb Byzantine silver coins. Congratulations. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ela126 Posted May 8 · Member Share Posted May 8 To have faces on all 3 individuals is a rare thing for sure! 4 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
voulgaroktonou Posted May 8 · Member Author Share Posted May 8 11 hours ago, Hrefn said: Those are superb Byzantine silver coins. Congratulations. Thank you! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Benefactor Ancient Coin Hunter Posted May 10 · Benefactor Benefactor Share Posted May 10 (edited) Great additions to the collection. I have a Porphyrogenitus, Romanus and Christopher miliaresion with the "Jesus Christ Conquers" phrase around a cross potent on stairs. Edited May 10 by Ancient Coin Hunter 6 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alegandron Posted May 15 · Supporter Share Posted May 15 Nice Andy @voulgaroktonou! Mine's kinda flat... ER Andronicus II - Michael IX AD 1295-1320 AR Basilikon 22mm 2.1g Cnstntnple Jesus Christ enthroned labarum DOC V 1 Class VIII 5 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
voulgaroktonou Posted May 16 · Member Author Share Posted May 16 On 5/14/2024 at 11:14 PM, Alegandron said: Nice Andy @voulgaroktonou! Mine's kinda flat... ER Andronicus II - Michael IX AD 1295-1320 AR Basilikon 22mm 2.1g Cnstntnple Jesus Christ enthroned labarum DOC V 1 Class VIII Yours is a nice example; they are typically flat, as are some of mine. But the inscription on your reverse is mostly quite clear and crisp. Nice coin! 1 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JeandAcre Posted May 17 · Member Share Posted May 17 I don't have any, but I have to like how these later basilikons imitate Venetian grossos ...which of course were more broadly imitating Byzantine motifs in the first place. (Doge Pietro Ziani, 1205-1229. Only one there's an easily findable pic of.) 4 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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